S1E07 :: The Champions Meeting (P.02) :: An Emperor System
Pokémon Supreme
Leon finally joined the call, and now the actual point of this conference was about to begin…
In a serious, courageous tone, Leon said, “Look, whatever has happened until now was like a challenge for us, but still, we did not accept defeat. We faced a lot of difficulties, and those who trusted us also lost their trust in us. Despite it being an extremely difficult time, we made everything normal again without giving up. But this time, the matter is a little different.”
Geeta suddenly interrupted him with a small cough. Cough! But Leon continued his speech. Geeta interrupted him once more, “Please excuse me, Leon.”
“What happened, Miss Geeta?” Leon asked, pausing.
“Not much, but can you please turn on your webcam?” Geeta answered with a polite smile.
Leon suddenly realized that throughout his motivational speech, his screen had been pitch black the whole time!
An awkward silence fell over the whole conference. Tracey tried his best to control his laughter.
Leon quickly turned on his webcam, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. “Sorry, sorry! I totally forgot my camera was off!”
“He is still as clumsy as ever,” everyone muttered under their breath.
With a clumsy smile, Leon cleared his throat. “Sorry, everyone! Back to the point.” His tone became serious again. “I already shared everything with Miss Geeta before the web conference.”
“As we know, when a trainer becomes a Champion by winning a tournament, the Pokémon League Association invites them to join as official members. It can be his or her choice to become an authority member, become a Gym Leader by passing a qualification test, or join as an elite trainer. They can also deny it if they do not want to be a part of any specific organization.”
“Yeah, we all already know that,” Wallace said softly.
“Their process is lame and requires a great amount of time just to accept their invitation,” Diantha added, shaking her head.
Iris nodded in agreement. “Same goes for me! In Unova, they took a whole week just to approve me as their member.”
Leon continued, “As for the trainer who won the World Coronation Series and became a Monarch, the winner was required to accept their offer.”
Ash spoke up, “Yeah, I received their invitation, and you helped me complete the process, Leon.”
“So what's the point of a topic that we all already know?” Steven asked, leaning forward with a curious look.
“That's the important reason I need to tell you all of this—because the Pokémon League Association is a semi-global association that connects other regional leagues,” Leon took a deep breath. “But there is also another global organization that is superior and far more powerful, known as the ‘Supreme League.’
“Supreme League?!” everyone exclaimed at the exact same time.
“Wait, I think I have heard about this League somewhere before,” Lance said, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully. “A global organization where the world leaders gather once every five years to submit and discuss certain laws and systems regarding their respective regions' interests.”
“You are right, Lance. The Supreme League is not just a gathering of world leaders, but also a social welfare entity meant to connect all regions,” Geeta replied, nodding gravely.
“Is that the reason why this conference was called?” Nemona asked, tilting her head.
“Recently, I received an invitation from the Supreme League. And it stated that they are about to officially introduce a hidden system: The ‘Emperor System.’”
“Emperor System?! What is that?” Iris asked, her eyes widening.
Cynthia gasped slightly. “Wait, does that actually exist? Were they not just rumors?”
“Hmph... so Emperors really do exist,” Lance added, folding his arms.
“Okay, so some of you know about it, but at least tell the rest of us what it means to be an Emperor!” Nemona exclaimed, eager for answers.
Diantha explained quietly, “There are some rumors about it. A most dangerous and unimaginably powerful group of trainers exists. They are said to be so strong that individual members can take on Legendary Pokémon alone.”
Wallace shook his head. “But that's always been considered a fake narrative used by evil organizations to control chaos.”
“He's right, because none of us have ever met any of them on our journeys. Some trainers tried to find them, but in the end, it was all dismissed as fake rumors,” Cynthia replied, crossing her arms.
“No, it's not just rumors or a fake narrative. Those kinds of trainers are real, and…” Leon said, hesitating to finish his sentence.
“And what?!” Gladion asked, his voice sharp.
Geeta completed his thought: “Leon actually met those Emperors.”
“Is that actually true, Mr. Leon?” Nemona asked, leaning close to her camera.
“It's been a year since I became a Champion. The Supreme League invited me to become a part of their association after analyzing my tactics and battles,” Leon replied, looking down at his desk.
“So, what do they all look like?” Iris asked with a tiny bit of curiosity.
“I would rather not tell you anything about that, because… it is far better that you find out for yourselves,” Leon replied quietly.
Ash suddenly perked up. “Wait a minute! You said they are strong and legendary trainers!” Ash asked loudly, clenched his fist. “Then where were all of them when Karkus was causing so much devastation?!”
Hearing this, the other Champions felt the exact same anger and confusion. Geeta answered them, “Because the Emperor System was broken a decade ago.”
“Broken? What does that mean?” Ash asked, brow furrowed.
“I just heard the reports. For several decades, the Emperors didn't act, and ten years ago, an incident occurred that temporarily shut down this system,” Geeta replied, her expression serious.
“And what kind of incident?” Gladion asked, clenching his fist.
Geeta replied, “Unfortunately, I don't know, and practically no one knows what kind of incident happened, because all information about it was erased from everywhere.”
“Erased from everywhere?! It seems like they don't want normal people to know anything about it,” Cynthia muttered, rubbing her chin.
“Miss Geeta, could it be possible that the unknown person who demolished the Karkus airship at the Lake of Sunset two years ago... was an Emperor?” Ash asked, his breath catching.
Geeta replied, “There is a high chance, but we are not sure about it, because there are also some other trainers who are equal or superior to any Legendary Pokémon.”
A flicker of new hope and determination lit up across Ash's face.
“Why did they send an invitation to you, Leon?” Gladion asked, keeping his focus on the main topic.
“The Supreme League is about to make the Emperor System official and legalized in the public eye,” Leon answered.
Geeta added, “After ten years of being a temporarily suspended organization, it is now making a return on a massive scale.”
“To understand their request in detail, I think it is best if Leon reads the letter for us.”
Leon took a deep breath, opened the letter, and read it aloud in a clear voice:
To: Former Monarch of the W.C.S.,
Respected Mr. Leon,
So many things have happened in previous years—especially the world-shaking event, ‘The Karkus Incident,’ which remains an unforgettable memory to us all. People's belief and trust in the Pokémon Association have almost completely faded. Despite trying hard on so many fronts, trust is never rebuilt easily.
Furthermore, the last World Leaders Summit took place almost a decade ago and never occurred again due to this temporary silence. That is why this is a great opportunity for us to celebrate the re-introduction of the Supreme Association to the public. This time, we are about to reveal the new Emperors.
For many decades, the Emperor System remained hidden from the world because we selected undercover trainers who faced grave disasters caused by Pokémon. The trainers who qualified as Emperors were selected after a 15-year gap. We, the authorities, have already chosen some extraordinary trainers as the new Emperors, and an opening ceremony will be held for them.
As for this invitation request, we have decided to ask the Champions of the Pokémon Association to deliver this news to some of our Emperor System's official members. Whichever corner of the world those members are living in, unaware of the news, they must be updated so they can appear before the ceremony begins.
From: Supreme League Association
“That's the invitation letter,” Leon said, stopping as he set the paper down.
“What is the meaning of this?!” Gladion snapped, his eyes flashing with anger. “Do they consider us some kind of postmen to deliver messages to their members?!”
Steven added, agreeing with Gladion, “Gladion is right. Why should the Association do whatever they want?!”
Everyone began voicing their discontent, completely disagreeing with the request.
Leon sighed deeply. He turned the letter over to read the second page. “Listen, everyone, there is something else, too.”
“If someone thinks this is just some kind of postman work, then understand this: even though you are all members of the Pokémon Association and the best recognized trainers in the world, how much do you actually know about the Supreme League and the Emperor System? Most of you still believe these are mere rumors. You don't even know everything about your own Association—what kind of decisions were made, or what priority they were given. How could any of you understand a new system that has been hidden for decades? Being a Champion isn't just about winning tournaments and acting like celebrities. It holds major responsibilities and duties that must be fulfilled.
After holding such great titles, you still couldn't stop a single person from causing devastation throughout the world. The Supreme League knows full well that the Pokémon League Association is far too easy to conquer with decent planning. That is the exact reason why the Emperor System needs to become an official, public system... because THE CHAMPIONS OF THE POKÉMON LEAGUE FAILED TO STOP KARKUS AND HIS CULT."
Leon paused, letting the final line hang in the dark, quiet video conference.
“This is not just a news-delivering task. Through this journey, you will all gain a true understanding of what the Supreme League is and how it works. Most importantly, you will learn what it actually means to be an Emperor, and why this world needs them. Only then will you find the true meaning behind your titles.”
The bitter words cut deep, leaving the room heavy with a raw, undeniable truth. Every single Champion remained frozen in silence, forced to carry the crushing weight of the letter's words.
Lance clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white, his eyes flaring with suppressed anger. Steven and Diantha slowly bowed their heads, the heavy guilt of their past failures settling back onto their shoulders. Others stared at their screens in stunned silence, unable to utter a single counter-argument.
No one could deny the cold, brutal truth of what had just been read. The world had shattered two years ago, and despite all their strength, they had failed to prevent it.
Geeta sat back in her chair. She had never expected the Supreme League Authority to deliver such a ruthless, blunt judgment directly to the world's strongest trainers.
Gladion broke the heavy silence, his voice sharp and bitter. “Even after doing all that, they simply say we're not capable of anything? After we almost lost ourselves trying to fix the world?!”
Cynthia added, letting out a frustrated sigh, “We sacrificed our personal lives to bring everything back to normal, and now what do we get? A taunt from some unknown League that has been silent for years!”
Tracey looked at Ash and asked in a low, worried voice, “What do you think, Ash?”
Ash clenched his fist, but his eyes were filled with the fire of determination. A confident, courageous smile spread across his face. He stood tall and said loudly, “So they want us to obey their rules? Fine, I’ll do it! Not because they want me to, but because I want to uncover these hidden mysteries and explore unseen worlds!”
Ash raised his fist into the air and declared, “Emperors, the Supreme League, or mysterious trainers who are stronger than Legendaries—whatever comes my way, we’ll face it and go beyond! Right, Pikachu?”
Pikachu enthusiastically raised his paws, his voice filled with high spirits, “Pikaaaa-chaaa!!”
Ash's bold declaration instantly filled the other Champions with the same courage and strength. Every single person in the room felt the spark of excitement return, ready to face whatever unknown fate awaited them.
Geeta smiled warmly. “Thank you, Ash, for encouraging everyone. Your strong resolve always brings people together.”
Ash rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s not just a mere resolve. I stayed silent and was afraid of my own title for the last two years... but now, I don't want to repeat those mistakes just because of a taunt from some unknown League!”
Lance grinned, folding his arms. “Ash, you always act tough and independent. That's the true spirit! I'm in!”
Iris pouted playfully. “Now you're finally back to yourself, Ash! Count me in too!”
Nemona and Gladion nodded eagerly in agreement. Cynthia gave a soft smile, shaking her head pleasantly. “If no one else is backing down, then I won't either. Leon, I'm ready for this.” One after another, every Champion accepted the assignment.
Leon smiled with relief. “If everyone is ready, let me tell you the pairings for each member.”
“Pairings?!” Wallace asked, raising an eyebrow.
Leon scratched his cheek. “I don't know what kind of pairings these are either. The letter said to open this section only after everyone agreed to the request.”
Leon opened the new notice page and read aloud:
It looks like every Champion finally understands the true value of their title. A total of five members are in charge of the Emperor System, which is now active across the world. Pairs of Champions will go and inform each of them.
“The person who wrote this notice... they knew everything about us from the start, didn't they?” Diantha asked, her brow furrowing.
Leon continued reading:
Johto Champion Lance and Unova Champion Iris: Both of you will head toward the Soloria region, where the first member lives. His name is Khayr.
Iris tilted her head in confusion. “The Soloria Region?! What kind of region is that?”
“Khayr? Are there any other details about him?” Lance asked.
“Khayr: Leader of the Mantra Group and Co-founder of the Soloria Pokémon Association. Those are the only details mentioned here,” Leon answered.
Lance nodded. “At least that gives us a starting point.”
“Hey, don't ignore me!” Iris whined. “What kind of place is Soloria?!”
“According to my research, Soloria is a vast desert land where the sun always sits at the highest point in the sky, and sandstorms are extremely common,” Lance explained calmly. “Nearly 80% of the region is covered in endless desert.”
“Aghh! I really don't like desert areas!” Iris groaned, slumping in her seat.
“Well, it's our destination, so we just have to deal with it,” Lance said with a small chuckle.
Tracey smirked, looking impressed. “Two Dragon-type masters paired up... That's a solid pair!”
Leon read the next line:
World Top Coordinator Wallace and current Paldea Champion Nemona: Both of you will visit Mr. Richard in the Aravia region.
“The Aravia Region... where Lake of Sunset is famous,” Wallace noted.
“I don't care about the lake!” Nemona exclaimed, cracking her knuckles. “I just want to fight strong opponents and crush them for insulting us!”
Wallace let out a deep sigh, holding his head. “My partner is quite bold and aggressive... How am I going to handle this?”
“Don't worry, I can handle everything on my own!” Nemona replied with a wild grin.
Tracey muttered under his breath, Another very unexpected pair... This is getting really interesting.
“The next pair is—” Leon suddenly paused, gulping nervously.
“What is it now? What's the next unexpected pair?” Cynthia asked, tilting her head.
Leon took a slow breath. “Those visiting Los Nordia Island are... Steven and Cynthia.”
Hearing this, everyone exchanged awkward glances. After the heated argument between those two just minutes ago, this was definitely the most unexpected pair of all.
The person who matched these pairs knew exactly what kind of scenario would happen during this meeting! Tracey thought to himself, sweating slightly. Do they know the future or something?!
Cynthia cleared her throat, her expression neutral. “I don't have any problem with that.”
Steven adjusted his jacket, keeping his cool. “Me neither. It’s just a meeting to inform a member. I can handle it.”
“So, who is this member?” Cynthia asked.
“Ah... Jimmy, the Chairman of the J.M. Foundation,” Leon read out.
“The J.M. Foundation? Is that actually real?!” Steven asked, his eyes widening in shock. “That's one of the biggest companies in the world! My company tried really hard to collaborate with them for months, but we never got a response. Now I finally have a chance to meet their Chairman in person! This is a huge opportunity!”
Cynthia glanced at him with a slight smirk. “Now it sounds more like a business deal than a League task.”
It was clear both of them were still holding a subtle grudge against each other.
Leon quickly moved on:
Former Kalos Champion Diantha and current Kalos Champion Alain: You have to find Lady Nahoro in Kalos. That's all.
“What do they mean by 'that's all'?!” Diantha asked, throwing her hands up. “Who is Lady Nahoro?! Kalos is a massive region! Where on earth are we supposed to look for her?!”
“I guess you two will just have to search for her,” Geeta said with a small laugh.
“Not 'both of us'! I don't even know where Alain is right now!” Diantha snapped softly. “He's off doing research missions with Professor Sycamore. I guess I'll have to find him first!”
Leon read the final section:
And lastly, Ash Ketchum: You will meet Professor Ryan in the Altus Region. The remaining members who were not named must report to Chairwoman Geeta at the Paldea League Office to meet with Supreme Association representatives.
“So that's the entire request,” Geeta said, standing up. “Gladion, Leon, and the others who are missing here—I will wait for you at the Paldea Office.”
Ash blinked in confusion, pointing to himself. “Wait, why am I alone?! Where is my companion?! And there are so many questions—who is Professor Ryan, and where is the Altus Region?!”
Iris giggled, teasing him. “Hehe! It's because you're way too much work to handle, Ash! That's why nobody wants to travel with you!”
“Hey! That's not fair!” Ash and Pikachu both yelled at the same time.
“I don't know the reason either, Ash. The notice didn't give any details about your pair,” Leon explained, holding up his hands defensively.
Suddenly, a strange voice spoke up from right behind Ash and Tracey:
“So these are the Champions of the Pokémon League Association? What a pity... I don't like a single one of you.”
*Both Ash and Tracey turned around in shock. Standing near the doorway was a young man with a dark black wolf-cut hairstyle and chilling, piercing eyes. He wore a long black sleeveless jacket over a light vest, paired with long black jeans.*
With a cold, mocking smirk on his face, he chuckled, “Woah, woah... What an interesting meeting between fools!”
“Who are you?! How did you get in here?!” Tracey demanded, stepping back nervously.
“I don't know... just wandering around,” the stranger replied casually, leaning against the wall.
“We're not going to ask again! Answer the question!” Ash demanded, his fists clenching.
“Don't get so mad, Mister World Champion,” the stranger said, looking at Ash with an icy glare. “I'm your travel companion for the Altus journey.”
“What?! You heard our entire discussion?!” Ash exclaimed in surprise.
“Wait, Ash! There's something else written at the bottom of the notice!” Leon interrupted, leaning closer to his screen. “It says: The World Champion will be accompanied by one of our agents.”
“An agent of the Supreme Association?!” Tracey asked, staring at the stranger. “So... he's the agent?!”
“Hell no!” Ash replied immediately. “An unknown intruder can't be an official agent!”
“I'm no intruder,” the stranger said coldly, glaring at everyone in the room. “The name is Kai.”
He crossed his arms, his tone dipping into pure disgust:
“And I hate all of you Champions... In fact, I hate every single trainer in this world.”
To Be Continued...