#memeysmuses

Wallace stood in front of Ever Grande with a concerned look on his face. Everyone seemed to be hustling inside...but his main concern was for Lisia. He had received a text from both Steven and Phoebe to get to the League as fast as he could, but he stood outside worriedly for his niece to arrive. They have received texts from Lisia earlier and hurried their way upon their request. Now he stood outside with a worried expression, his hands cupped together as he watched the sky. In the distance he narrowed his eyes. Was that...was that them and Ali? "Lisia! Lisia down here!"

The flight across the Hoenn sea wasn't easy or the two. Lisia, having never navigated by herself to Ever Grand, and Ali having never made the trip in the air. Anxious about her Uncle, Lisia checked her phone again, ignoring every angry text from er mother in favor of Wallace. "Still nothing Ali..." she sighed, noticing the island in their eyesight. "At least we're- Uncle Wall!" The teenager raised up her hands to signal she saw him, and leaned down close to her altaria's head. "Just coast down Ali! Uncle Wall is there so it's okay!" Ali cooed happily in response, and soon they were both on the ground (After a messy landing of course.) The teen brushed off ehr outfit, made sure her pokemo was okay, adn called er back, and then ran over to Wallace. "I'm here Uncle Wall!!"

Wallace sighed as he embraced his niece and let out a breath of relief. She was safe and alright, that's all that mattered at the moment. Pulling her back slightly and looking over her, Wallace smiled weakly as he pulled her into a hug once more. "You had me so worried! Steven is just inside, as well as everyone else, but I fear that we're going to have a good talk about what was going on with Johto." The smile easily slipped into a frown as he looked down at Lisia. "Come, the meeting is about to begin." With that said, Wallace lead Lisia into the League with a heavy heart. Everyone was waiting, including the Champion himself.

Watching everyone silently, Steven turned his head and noticed Wallace walking in with Lisia. His worry was out the door now that she was safe, a subtle smile on his lips. Immediately turning his attention to the filled room, he immediately whistled in order to gain everyones attention. When silence settled upon them, the Champion began to speak. "I've been to Johto, as well as Winona, and I know that you all have seen the news cast. Psychic users are being attacked, something fishy is going on with the League officials, and Lance supposedly perished." A pause. "...Supposedly." With that said, Steven looked up at the Dragonite behind him and then back at everyone else. "I got a letter from Lance. He's safe and sound." As proof, Steven held up the letter. "I have to go after this meeting, but I need to discuss with you all a defense plan for Hoenn." Silence sunk in even more and Steven waited for everyone to give in their two cents.

Winona breathed out a huge sigh of relief; the confirmation that Lance was indeed alive and well felt like a giant weight coming off her shoulders. However, that didn't mean she wasn't still concerned about everything else that was going on. The suspicious League activity, in particular, was something that had her on edge - mainly out of fear of being in the crosshairs. "Indeed. In addition to coming up with a defense plan, I have a couple things I'd like to share with you all when the time is right."

Drake walked up and examined the letter Steven showe dthem all before passing it to Glacia to read for herself and pass around to the others here for this meeting. Letting out a gruff huff, he leered at Steven and Winona, "So what else did you two learn over there? Do you know who tried to kill Lance or anthing about who is support the chairmen and the tauroshit actions as of late?" He leaned against a wall and sighed. "We won't be able to much of anything if we have no clue what our enemy looks like or what they're after." He then looked at the twins. "They attacked two of our own, we can't let them walk around doing as they please."

Glacia took the letter from Drake while he questioned the other two, her lips pursing while scanning the written form. "Quite a scare he spread... if someone is bold enough to target a Champion then surely we are just as vulnerable. I hope the other regions are faring well... I haven't been able to contact anyone outside of the League due to the fright of the news..." Her voice quieted while Wallace in turn took the letter to gaze over with his own eyes. He looked at Steven meanwhile before he handed off the letter to Flannery. "You went off alone too...even with one of our own traveling with you, you could've gotten hurt or worse." The look of worry in his eyes, Wallace glanced at Lisia and then back at Steven. "I know what Drake says is true, we need to figure out who is doing this. Hoenn Defense though would be great though but how are we going to defend the region? We can barely keep track of anything atop this tower." He didn't want to doubt Steven nor anyone here, but the water Champion still had a glint of worry in his eyes. Wallace then looked over at Flannery. "What do you think...?"

For a very brief moment, Flannery debated telling the others of her little... "excursion" out to Doraderra. However, and perhaps fortunately, she decided against it, not wanting to risk the backlash she'd most likely receive. The Fire-type specialist read over the letter carefully, scanning it no less than three times. "Well... at least for Lavaridge... see, we have a protective wall that guards the city on Mt. Chimney's side to prevent lava flow. Perhaps if we had people and Pokemon guard that wall, we could at least keep Lavaridge safe. As for who could be doing this... the people in the video looked like Flare grunts, but... I don't know. Something was off about them. It was like they stole the uniforms or something..." With a small shrug, she slid the letter towards Tate and Liza.

It was kinda odd sitting here now. Technically, the twins were out of a job (and, on top of that they still injured after all the events), but Drake's remark did bring about a smile from the duo. It's nice to see the others still thought them important enough to be part of the meeting. Though, they were kinda surprised to see Flannery had left at the news, not quite realizing just how the letter was infront of them right away. Liza was the one who took the letter, kinda awkwardly seeing as her arm was still in a sling, handing it over to Tate for both of them to see. Plenty of relief passed their eyes. It's good to know that the Johto champ was alive and well, but they were more excited to see what other sort of things they could have. Just what kind of stuff did Stevey have in store. All the devon technology!

Norman quitely listened to everyone as he took a look at the letter before passing it off the next person. "So far all we know is that psychic type trainers and champions are targets going off the news. Which placees the twins, Steven, Wallace and other regional psychic type trainers and champions as targets." He looked around the room, "We could go so far to far to say even champion-level trainers are not assured saftey." Like his child. He clenched his fists as he kept talking. "We need better communication and teamwork first and foremore if anything is done about this." He looked around taking a breath before continuing. "You two-", he looked over to Steven and Wallace, "should keep a low profile and shouldn't travel alone if possible. There is safety in numbers so I suggest to everyone that you atleast travel in pairs." He then looked around the room, "We need way to talk to the other without having any information leaks. We also should have a couple of people act as the person who consolidates all the information we gather, so that everyone knows whats currently happening and so we can plan things out more effectively." He then focused back at the champions, "I don't want my child to end up in a simliar situation like Lance." He told him looking both dead in their eyes.

Zinnia was definitely the odd one out here. She had no status as Gym Leader nor Elite Four--yet she had ties (however strained) to several people here. That, and somehow she'd gotten caught up in the complicated chain of events that brought them together. With a slight bit of apprehension--she did assault Norman's kid awhile back, after all--she took the paper and glanced over it. She could understand the basic words--anything complicated and she glanced over it to get the gist of what it said, then handed it over. Something about being in the same room as many people she'd hurt over the course of her time as Lorekeeper was making something rise up in her. "...if there's any use I can be, I'll do it. I know a lot of you," she continued, forcing herself to look at Norman and Steven in particular, "don't trust me after what happened, but I can't allow whatever all this is to keep happening either."

Lisia looked over the letter while Wallace read it over. She felt better, knowing Lance really was okay. The video had still haunted her, and would likely be something she’d think about for weeks after. As the others conversed and explained their problems and concerns, Lisia interjected with a raised hand. “Uhm...I know I’m not a gym leader...or as cool as May and Brendan,” she started with her quiet voice. It was easier to talk about this to Steven and Wallace, but in front of the rest of the league members... “But I can work with my Uncle and keep him safe! I’m a trainer too, and I’ve learned from the best...so no worries there...” she looked to Wallace with a little smile. “I did see the video, and I didn’t recognize the people attacking Lance, but there was all that ice...was that normal?”

Phoebe was next to receive the letter, frowning as she did so. The clairvoyant looked up and passed it along, folding her arms over her chest. “We need to come up with a plan for all of Hoenn, not just one city. Sorry Flan, but that wall isn’t gonna help much..” She looked to Steven. “Something tells me that you have something in mind?”

Brawly only looked through the letter briefly, compared to most of the members of the meeting, he still had a smile on his face. “I don’t think we have to worry about Hoenn!” He proclaimed “I mean, what do they really have to gain from attacking out little island? As for the ice monster, we should totally start researching on what that is. I can always get a hold of my main bro in Kanto, Bruno too!” The bluenette then looked to Steven “But if you got a plan, by all means!”

Roxanne glared at Brawly when he passed the letter over to her. Was there nothing that would phaze him for even a split second? She resisted the temptation to lecture him right where he sat, and instead read the letter attentively. For now, there was nothing she needed to ask or add. Once she was done reading the letter, she looked at everyone, then gave the letter back to Brawly while whispering for him to read it.

Steven stood with his hands behind his back and listened, and he made sure to listen well. Everyone's concerns would be answered, yes, but the point of being paired into twos made the silverette turn his attention to Norman. "I agreee with you on the pairings. I would highly suggest the same thing, however I know not everyone will follow through all of that. Which brings me to your next point." Steven walked over towards a table that belonged to the pokemon nurses. Being the healing room for trainers, the table was always there to allow a holographic image of the continent to be shown. Activating it, Steven turned his attention back towards the others with a stern expression. "Communication effort is something I have been thinking ever since I came here on Dragonite. This is what's going to happen." With that, Steven pointed to the continent's underside.

“Our defense and communication is going to be formed by my Beldum littered around the continent. You know how Psychic pokemon communicate through brain waves, right?” He questioned before continuing. “Think of them as walkie talkies, except you use your mind to communicate to them and send out long distance signals to notify other Beldum. I’ve created a specific type of technology to increase the radius of these signals, so you’ll be able to use your Beldum at any part of the world as you wish. The bonus? This mental network is private and unhackable. Nothing can touch the Beldum’s psychic waves, and everything remains private. I'll assign everyone from the League that can be trusted with a Beldum so that way they can communicate without fear of being tracked or hacked. I will also leave some around the continent as well so that way anyone will know if something's up in a specific area." Ending his explaination, Steven sighed. Talking this long gave him a headache, but it's the best option they have to maintain a private type of communication effort.

"What Flannery and Lisia says is true though, I don't know what that ice is or who exactly is doing it. It's certainly not the ice of a Regice nor anything i've ever seen. I've asked Cynthia to research it for me but I haven't heard from her at all. So, i'll be sending her a Beldum to keep in contact with us all." Steven looked at Flannery and Lisia with a nod before turning back to Norman and Drake. "No one is going to be put under harm, not with the Beldum. I travel faster by myself, but Lance's Dragonite will keep me well guarded as well as Metagross. I'm very prepared for what's at stake here. Wallace will remain here to keeep things in order and to keep me updated just in case something happens. Winona, you'll scout out across Tohjo and be ready for commands. Brawly may come with you if he wishes. Lisia, I want you to lend a helping hand to anyone that needs it. You know how to get around situations but please don't go alone. Drake, you're second in command just in case something runs amess here. Flannery, I want you to contact Cynthia and see what she and Sinnoh have learned. Sidney and Phoebe, I need you two to stick together."

“Zinnia," Steven looked at her with a pointed look. "I have a feeling Unova might need your expertise. I want you to provide as much information to Winona and I as much as possible. Anyone else I want you to be on your guard and make sure no trouble is made. If there's a distress call from anywhere, work amongst yourselves as to who will answer it. Understood? If any of the Gym Leaders or Elites are injured," Steven looked at the Twins with a worried yet confident look. "I want you to care for them and keep them safe. That goes for the twins as well, please keep them safe."

Winona nodded... scout. It certainly fit her, given she was the Flying specialist and all. "Understood... I'll try to cover the entire continent, but I won't stray too far from where I'm needed. And the Beldum thing is very clever, Steven... I have to hand it to you for that." Granted, she'd have to make twice as sure to remain relatively off the radar, but that was a small price to pay for being entrusted with such an important job. "If you need me to head anywhere specific right away, just tell me."

Drake leered at Steven from against the wall, "Okay, that solves our communication problem but there still are things we need to think about." He looked around the room at everyone before focusing back on Steven,  "The enemy. While we're focused on defense, they have they advantage. We can't predict their moves or guess what the end goal for them is. We'd basically be at their mercy while waiting for you and Winona to find something." He got off the wall, crossed his arms and stood before everyone casting his gaze among them. "We need eyes and ears outside of our little isalnd to figure this all out. The other regional leaders are nice, but if they're in a simlar boat like us, it would basically be the blind leading the blind." He looked at Zinnia, "Like that young woman over there. She has no direct connection to us, so can move about much more freely than the rest of us." He paused for a moment before he went one, keeping his eyes on Zinnia. "We should have someone try to get information of the league's activities from the inside and from the outside. That way we can gather much more information  more quickly without spreading ourselves  thin, thus weakening us as a whole."

Glacia and Wallace looked at Drake while they shared glances with one another. Wallace had his hands resting on Lisia's shoulders while Glacia nodded in confirmation. "Seems like a good idea. If we stay huddled together, then we'll be sitting ducks. I think we should have someone work together with another to ensure we know exactly what will go down." The ice lady uttered while glancing back at Wallace, who still held a worried expression. "I agree. If we can pick up at least a little bit of information from what the enemy is and what they're doing, we can have the upper hand." The water Champion then looked at Steven and Drake with intensity in his eyes. "I can try all that I can...although we'll need someone that can do this with confidence. I myself am a master at shows, but to lift information from the League's activities while i'm at high status is a higher risk. They'll be suspicious for sure, so we need someone that will not cause alarm bells to be set off."

"I could do it," Flannery chimed in almost immediately. "I mean... think about it. To the League, I'm really just that happy-go-lucky Fire gym leader with the ridiculous hair... but the thing is, I'm not. If I was the one to get some dirt on them, they really wouldn't suspect a thing. From there, I could relay that information to Winona through my Beldum, and then she'll take it from there." The only problem Flannery could really think of was the fact that Fire wasn't exactly the most... subdued of types to be working with for this. Then again, if all went right, she wouldn't have much of a need for her Pokemon, anyway. Turning back to Steven, she assured him, "I'm pretty sure Grampa Ty can handle things in Lavaridge... so I'll try to get info from the League from the inside."

The twins patted their chests with their uninjured hands. "Don't worry about us!" They said in unison. "They might have caught us off-guard once," Tate started, his hand curling into a fist. Liza finished off with a huff and, "but they won't get us again!" They nodded towards one another then. "We'll make sure everyone stays golden." "If anyone needs a quick escape route too--" "We can give a boost!" "At the very least, our pokemon can."

Norman looked at the twins, "I volenteer to guard the kids." He didn't wish to see them get assaulted anymore. "As for everthing else, I agree."

Zinnia blinked. She was being seen as useful for something like this? Especially with how much of a jerk she'd been in the past to Steven. "Unova, huh..." That place seemed to be practically her new home with how often she found herself there. This was going to be interesting. "Then...I'll do my best."

"If that's any help," Roxanne started, looking a Zinnia, "my maid is currently in vacation in Unova. She can help you if I tell her to. One person alone wouldn't cut it, I fear." She sighs and pats her skirt clean, looking over at Norman now. "If that's not too much, I volunteer to guard the twins too. I haven't told anyone in Rustboro where I was going, and my parents believe me to have left Hoenn altogether. Right now I am a shadow, and I prefer it to remain that way unless for an emergency."  

Lisia raised her hand again, this time jumping up and down almost, on her heels, and waving her hand around. "Uncle Steve!! I can help too!! I mean...I wanna make sure Uncle Wallace is safe, but I can get information too probably! At least help Auntie Winona and Flannery.."

Phoebe smiled hearing all of the progress they made, she looked to Steven and gave him a thumbs up. "That's a perfect idea Stevie! Me and Sidney will keep together, and I'll talk to beldum often as well as the spirits on Mt. Pyre!"

Whatever daze Sidney had been in, he turned his head back up at the mention of his name. Guard Mt. Pyre? Probably heard that close enough. "...Ay, yeah." A lot on his mind, and not enough time.

Brawly was last to agree, only giving a nod and assuming he'd stick with Roxanne. "If anyone needs anything, Dewford's open to you all! You're my closest bros, yanno. Just be careful when you leave Steve."

Steven's attention was mapping everywhere, from Drake to Wallace, to Glacia to Flannery, and then to Winona and the twins, Norman, Zinnia, Brawly, Lisia, Roxanne, Sidney and Phoebe. They all had a point and Steven couldn't agree more than to allow Flannery and Zinnia to play the inside and outside informants of the League. Drake had a point and everyone seemed to be on board with the idea and the concept of the Beldum communications.