The next day Leon didn't show up for work. Instead he laid curled up in his bed, crying. Glass lays around his room, tinted with his own blood. The shadows of the dawn swarm around Leon, making him seem smaller than the room.

"Brother... What did I do to you? I tried to do everything to make you happy but you still came out wrong. I tried to look strong and take you problems off your shoulders but you still came out wrong. Were you just corrupted at birth? Am I just not good enough? Did someone do something to your mind?" Leon looks at his slashed up hands. "Give me an answer."

Almost on cue, the TV flickers on. There was his masked brother, outfit mostly the same. Besides the mask's dots are now red, blue and pink.

"Hello citizens of Galar! Today is a special day so please don't go outside in the morning if you value your own life. If you do not value your own life, please come Wydon. If you truly really want to die, go outside Ro- er, The Battle Tower please. I will start my show at 6am so don't be late!" The masked man bows and the TV goes back to normal.

"Wydon..." Leon mutters, hypnotized by the despair he's fallen into. Before Leon could finished making plans, the door swings wide open.

"Oh my lord... Leon! What happen?!" Victor quickly goes to Leon's side, legs wobbling. Leon leans into Victor, not saying a word. Victor looked around at the shattered glass bottle and the neck on the table. The end of the neck was lined with Leon's crimson blood, slowly dripping onto the wooden floor.

"I must see my brother. I must find out what I did wrong." Leon mutters. It didn't seem directed to his boyfriend or anyone in particular. Victor slips his hands into Leon's.

"Leon, whatever happened to Hop isn't your fault. But if it makes you feel better, I can help you find out!" Victor voice was getting more frantic.

"Victor, I'm fine... I just need to save Hop. I need to fix him." Leon collapses onto Victor, passing out from blood lost. A few cuts shouldn't make him pass out... Not wanting to invade Leon's privacy, Victor slides out. He sends out his blue Alcremie to keep an eye on Leon and heal him.

Victor exits Leon's room and takes out the set of keys Leon given him. "I'm sorry Leon..." Victor locks Leon in his own room and quickly runs off to Wydon.

***

In front of The Battle Tower were many people. Teenagers, battle goers and news reporters. Looking above them was Hop, still wearing his mask. He watched the people frantically shout to be let in, wanting to talk to the source of the chaos.

Victor checks his watch. 5:58am. Crap. Victor quickly runs away, not knowing what Hop will do at 6. Victor ducks into a red phonebooth, hoping that will be a safe spot. Inside he could barely hear outside, for better or worse.

"Welcome! Now, I know most are here out of curiosity so I shall show you. Today, all of you have sacrificed yourself to the name of science. I thank your courage and stupidity, even though I know none of your names." Hop holds out a pink ball. "This today will change our society for better or worse." He drops the ball and quickly goes inside.

The bomb hits the floor, causing people to disperse. The pink smoke slithers and snakes, climbing into people's noses. People dropped like flies. Oddly, the Pokemon didn't seem affected by the smoke.

Victor body shakes, watching innocent people dropping because of his childhood friend. "Hop... Why are you truly doing this?" Victor mutters, tears slipping from his brown eyes.

Slowly the people started to stand up like puppets, hoisted by their strings. Their eyes were tainted pink and glazed over with undying loyalty. The doors to the tower magically open, letting the human puppets in.

Victor, blinded by confused rage, swings the booth's door open. "Hop! What the actually hell are you even doing?! You're going insane and your brother is slipping! Please stop this madness and tell us what's going on!" Victor runs towards the door, just to be stopped by the mindless puppets.

"You don't belong here..." Some mutter, similarly to Leon earlier today.

"H-Hey, wait a second, I just need to talk to your leader!" The puppets grab Victor, making him unable to move.

"We'll show you him. Just don't fight back." Raihan smiles, leading the puppets in.

______

"You think this will be enough young master?" The young blonde asks, taking notes on his notepad.

"For now, I guess. We always can host this again if we need more test subjects." Hop frowns, playing with his cape. "I just hope this works..."

"It will. Stop worrying and keep working."

"Alright." Hop sighs, looking down at his puppets. "But this doesn't feel right..."

"Stop doubting yourself and keep moving forward." Hop's assistant glares at him with his icy blue eyes.

"Ok..."