The news spread across Sinnoh like wildfire. Government officials had been assassinated outside the government building.
The Indigo delegation had been attacked. Gym Leader Gladion and Champion candidate Cynthia had survived an explosion that destroyed an entire mountain outpost.
And the people responsible were suspected to be military radicals. Every newspaper in Sinnoh was filled with the same story. Every television station was discussing it.
Every home, restaurant, and Pokemon Center was talking about it. Fear had begun spreading throughout the region. Some people became angry at the violence. Others became worried that peace would never come. Many feared that the peace agreement between Indigo and Sinnoh would collapse before it had even begun.
Inside the government building, however, another meeting was taking place. Champion Rowan sat at the head of the table.
Around him were several senior officials from Sinnoh. On the other side sat Gladion, Blaine, Sabrina, and Cynthia. The atmosphere was heavy.
No one looked relaxed. One of the Sinnoh ministers sighed deeply. "I fear that today's ceremony should be postponed." Several officials nodded in agreement.
Another minister spoke up. "The public is frightened. Security is compromised. The radicals may attempt another attack." A third official looked toward Gladion. "You were nearly assassinated. We understand if Indigo wishes to delay the agreement."
Silence filled the room. Champion Rowan slowly nodded. "Frankly, I would not blame you." Everyone looked toward the Indigo delegation.
Blaine crossed his arms and stayed quiet. Sabrina remained silent as well. Finally, everyone's eyes settled on Gladion. The young Gym Leader looked at each person in the room carefully.
Then he sighed. "Can I ask something?" Champion Rowan nodded. "Of course." Gladion leaned forward slightly. "If we postpone this ceremony, what message does that send?"
The room became quiet. He looked around at every face. "We discussed peace." No one spoke. "Then radicals attacked us." Silence. "And now we cancel our agreement because we are afraid."
He looked directly at the officials. "Would that not mean they already won?" The words struck everyone deeply. Several officials frowned as they thought about it.
Gladion continued speaking,"Their entire purpose was to scare us." He looked at Champion Rowan. "They wanted fear." Then he looked at the other ministers. "They wanted us to abandon peace." The room remained completely silent. Finally, he spoke again. "If we back down now, we are giving them exactly what they want."
The officials looked at one another. No one could deny his words. Champion Rowan slowly nodded. "I understand your point."
Cynthia spoke next with determination. "I agree with Gladion." Everyone looked at her. She folded her arms. "The radicals want us divided. They want us afraid of one another."
She looked around the room. "If we postpone this agreement, then the deaths of those officials become their victory."
Rowan smiled slightly. "The young people are making too much sense today." A few officials almost smiled at that.
Then Champion Rowan slowly leaned back in his chair. He looked tired. Very tired. He had witnessed war. He had witnessed loss. Now he was witnessing the possibility of peace being challenged before it even began.
Finally, he took a deep breath. "No." Everyone looked at him. The old Champion's eyes became firm. "No postponements."
Several ministers looked surprised. Champion Rowan slowly stood up. "The ceremony will happen."
He looked around the room. "The agreement will be signed today." The officials looked at one another.
One minister hesitated. "But what if they attack again?" Champion Rowan looked at him. "Then they attack."
The old man's voice became firm. "But Sinnoh does not bow to terrorists." The room became completely silent.
Then another official slowly nodded. "I agree." A second official nodded as well. "So do I." Soon, one after another, the ministers began agreeing. The atmosphere slowly changed. Fear remained. But determination had appeared beside it.
Champion Rowan looked toward Gladion. "Would you be willing to address the public?"
The young Gym Leader blinked. "A speech?" Rowan nodded. "You have become one of the faces of this agreement. You are quite famous in Sinnoh"
Cynthia smiled slightly. "And apparently, children in Jubilife are already pretending to be you." Gladion looked amused. "I am never escaping that, am I?" "No."
Several people actually laughed. The tension in the room finally eased.
A few hours later, a large stage had been prepared outside the government building. Security had been increased dramatically.
Hundreds of officers and Pokemon guarded the area. The streets nearby were filled with people. Thousands had gathered. Even more watched through televisions.
The atmosphere was tense. Many people looked worried. Some held flowers in memory of the fallen officials. Others held candles. Some looked angry. Some looked afraid.
Then Champion Rowan walked onto the stage. The crowd became silent. The old Champion looked at his people. For several moments, he said nothing. Then he spoke. "Today should have been a day of celebration." His deep voice carried throughout the square.
"Instead, it became a day of tragedy." The people remained silent. "We lost good men and women." He looked toward several empty seats on the stage. "They came here seeking peace."
His voice softened. "And they never returned home." Several people lowered their heads. The old Champion took a deep breath. "But I refuse to allow their sacrifice to become meaningless."
He looked toward the crowd. "The radicals believe fear can control us." His voice became stronger. "They believe violence can decide our future." He slowly shook his head. "They are wrong." Applause slowly began spreading through the crowd.
Then Rowan looked behind him. "Today, someone else also wishes to speak." He stepped aside. Gladion walked onto the stage.
The applause immediately became louder. Many people looked surprised. They had expected him to remain hidden after the assassination attempt. Instead, he was standing before them.
Gladion looked at the massive crowd. Thousands of eyes looked back at him. He took a deep breath. "Yesterday, I arrived in Sinnoh as a representative of Indigo."
His voice was clear. "Today, I stand here as someone who has witnessed both your kindness and your pain."
The crowd listened quietly. "I met people who wanted friendship." He paused. "And I also saw people willing to kill for hatred."
. The young Gym Leader looked toward the flowers placed in memory of the dead officials. "I did not know the men and women who died." His voice became softer. "But I know one thing." Everyone listened. "They believed peace was worth pursuing."
"And because of that, they were attacked." He looked at the crowd. "They cannot speak anymore." His expression became serious.
"So today, we will speak for them." The crowd remained completely silent. "We will not allow hatred to decide our future." His voice became stronger. "We will not allow fear to break our bonds."
"Those officials died while trying to build something better." He looked around. "Then let us finish what they started."
The crowd erupted. People began clapping. Some even stood. Gladion continued. "The men responsible for these crimes believe violence makes them powerful."
His eyes became cold. "They are wrong. They will be found and will be punished." A murmur spread through the crowd.
His eyes remained firm. "Not because they attacked me." He pointed toward the flowers. "But because they murdered innocent people."
Many people nodded. Some wiped their eyes. Gladion looked toward the sky. "The world has suffered enough wars." He looked back at the crowd. "We have all inherited pain from the previous generation."
His expression softened. "But we do not have to inherit their hatred. A child born today deserves a better world than the one we inherited."
Champion Rowan looked at Gladion with a complicated expression. 'Perhaps this is why people like him.' Finally, the applause ended.
Champion Rowan stepped forward once more. He raised a document. "Today, despite fear and despite tragedy, Sinnoh and Indigo choose hope." Another official brought forward a second document. The crowd watched silently. Champion Rowan signed first.
Then he handed the document to Gladion. The young Gym Leader looked at it. Then he signed his name.
Champion Rowan raised the document. "From this day onward, Sinnoh and Indigo begin a new chapter together!"
The cheers became even louder. Gladion looked at the the horizon. Somewhere out there, General Alvarez and his allies were likely furious.
A small smile appeared on his face. 'You killed innocent people to stop this agreement.' He looked at the cheering crowd. 'And all you accomplished was making us sign it even faster.'
-----Author Notes------
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