To my new readers, welcome. To my old readers who never thought this would see the light of day, welcome back! Since I began Final Challenge back in 2007, I've had this idea in my mind for an eventual sequel. The plot, characters, and even the title have been stuck in my mind since the very beginning. I figure it's about time I actually got the story out there.

Since this is the sequel, if you haven't read Final Challenge (which, to be honest, most of you probably haven't since it was written and posted so long ago) you will be spoiled for this fanfiction; so if you'd like to start at the beginning and not get spoiled, that is your starting point!

Right, so with all that out of the way, it's time to get started. Last chance to avoid spoilers for the first one. Everybody all caught up? Okay, here we go - enjoy!

6 years ago...

"Today, I am proud to acknowledge at last the passing of my crown as Champion," Cynthia said from the pedestal. Her gaze swept across the sea of reporters before her before resting momentarily in the front row; there sat Brock, Holly, May, Rey, Dawn, Forrest, Tucker, Greta, Lucy, Brandon, Noland, Anabel, and Scott. Sitting on May's lap was a raven-haired girl of about four. Her dark eyes stared solemnly as she watched the proceedings happening on the stage before her, and though she did not seem to understand what was going on she knew that it was an occasion where she should remain silent. Cynthia had to hide a sad smile at the sight of her before returning to her address.

"There is no doubt in my mind," she continued, "that had our match continued without interruption I would have been defeated. Had our match been rescheduled and undertaken prior to the tragic events that occurred, I believe I still would have lost." One reporter several rows stood up, microphone, pen, and pad in hand.

"You talk as if it was a certainty that you would have been beaten," he called, "but the match was far from over. How can you be so sure that you would have lost? This conference is unprecedented. League rules state that a Champion may be crowned only when the prior has been defeated in battle. This did not happen." Cynthia looked sideways at Mr. Goodshow, whose small frame was sat upon a chair several metres away on the other end of the stage. He nodded, and she turned to answer the question.

"Champions are crowned not only because of their battle skills," she responded. "There are many qualities that are involved. These include complete empathy and understanding with one's Pokémon, the ability to think outside of battle situations, and to forever work towards and help establish a safer world between humans and Pokémon. These qualities must all be met before a Champion can be declared; the battle is merely formality as it demonstrates they have the skill to command Pokémon in battle.

"I saw his death," she said quietly, her eyes resting on the front row again. "I will not go into details, but he gave his own life so that others would live, and had he not done so a great many more would have died instead. It is because of this that Mr. Goodshow and I have agreed to confer upon Ash Ketchum the title of Posthumous Pokémon Champion and recognize him as an Honorary Pokémon Master."

"How will a new Champion be crowned from this point on?" another reporter asked bluntly.

"While Mr. Ketchum is recognized as my successor, for a new Champion to be crowned they must still defeat me in battle," Cynthia answered. "The procedure is no different than it would be had he been crowned Champion before his death."

"What about the position of Colosseum Head?" a woman shouted, jumping in front of several other reporters.

"The Battle Frontier is a separate entity from the Pokémon League," Cynthia responded, her dark, liquid eyes ignoring the questioner entirely as she gazed once more at the little girl in the front. "I am not a part of that organization, so you would have to ask that question of Scott; I cannot provide an answer to you."

"Cynthia! Cynthia!" Several more hands shot into the air, but she waved them away.

"There will be no more questions," she said calmly. "What has been mentioned today is self-explanatory and requires no more depth to be added. Good day to you all." She swept off and vanished behind the stage, leaving the large crowd of surprised reporters behind. Mr. Goodshow seemed as astonished as everyone else at the abrupt departure, but he quickly recovered and moved to the microphone.

"Well, that would be it for today's conference," he said. "As you know, the next League begins in three weeks so I suppose I shall see you all at that time. Until then, I hope you all have safe journeys home." Grumbling, the reporters stood en masse and began moving towards the exits. Despite the massive size of the crowd the area was devoid of humans in a surprisingly short time.

Devoid save for those in the front row, that is. They remained sitting in their seats, unnoticed by the crowd, waiting for the reporters to leave before facing one another.

"I guess it's a good thing that I went on that Detox diet," Scott said, chuckling nervously to break the ice. "I get the feeling that those reporters would have disrupted the conference if they'd noticed me. After what Cynthia said, anyways."

"It was a valid question. Who are you going to get to fill in Ash's position?" Greta asked. Scott rubbed the back of his head ponderously.

"Dunno," he said at length. "I guess I could always bring Spencer out of retirement, or audition another candidate. Course, the position is May's if she wants it." The former Coordinator shuddered slightly and clutched her daughter to her more tightly.

"After that Ursaring attack, the only thing I want is to wake up from this hellish nightmare of a life," she said softly. The others looked at one another uneasily, and then Rey placed a hand on her friend's shoulder.

"Come on, May," she whispered, "I'll help you home." Barely seeming to hear her, May rose to her feet. Her daughter slid to the ground, but May kept tight hold of her hand and began to stumble slowly towards the exit, leaning on Rey for support.

"Do you think she'll be all right?" Holly asked, looking to her husband.

"If she was on her own, no," Brock replied, his gaze fixed on the sad figure of the woman who had been so happy and energetic just four short years ago. It was hard to believe that she was only 22. "She was fine until the attack; but she has all of us to support her, and help her through this. And Alex of course; what a tough little girl! May might grieve inside but Alex won't let her stay like this for long. She'll recover; sooner rather than later. All we have to do is make sure that we stay close by in case she needs us."

Anabel started forward from the group, following Rey, May, and Alex. "We need to be strong together," she whispered softly to herself. "After what you've been through, May, I'll do everything I can to help you recover. We all will." She hurried to catch the trio and took Alex's other hand, beginning a conversation with the young girl to try and distract May from her reverie. Slowly, the four of them made their way back to Pallet Town.