Three Champions

←	Prelude: Mysterious Stones Chapter The Echo of a Deity's Voice

Chapter 1
Three Champions

第１章
３人のチャンピオン

Chapter 1
Three Champions

Info

Date released	August 28, 2024
Story arc	Arceus Arc

Other

Featured sync pairs

Arc Suit Cynthia & Garchomp
Arc Suit Steven & Metagross
Arc Suit Lance & Dragonite

Three Champions (Japanese: ３人のチャンピオン Three Champions) is the first chapter of the Arceus Arc in Pokémon Masters EX. It focuses on Cynthia, Steven, and Lance as they forge strong bonds with their partner Pokémon and become the first sync pairs to receive arc suits.

It was released all at once on August 28, 2024.

Plot

Cynthia's Conviction

At night in the ruins, Cynthia and her Garchomp train with Rei and Decidueye to learn more about Hisui's battling style. Reminded of Volo's method of fighting, Cynthia asks Rei to explain more about him. Rei hesitantly describes Volo as "elusive," but tells her that his love of Pokémon and mythology is very real. He asks her if she is training to surpass Volo's skill, and she partly agrees, saying she would primarily like for her and Garchomp to meet their full potential.

Suddenly, there is a cry for help nearby. Cynthia and Rei turn to see a space-time distortion deeper in the ruins. They find two Trainers surrounded by groups of Pokémon on both sides, then split up to defeat each of them. Despite the overwhelming number of opponents, Cynthia is able to stay entirely calm with Garchomp at her side. She thinks of the trust they share with each other, and its ability to empower them both.

A bright light then shines from the sky, accompanied by an odd sound. Shortly after, the distortion disappears. Both Trainers thank Cynthia for her help, aspiring to have the same relationship with their Pokémon that she does with her Garchomp. Once they leave, Cynthia realizes that she can find the growth she is seeking if she stays true to her own style of battling. Impressed by Cynthia's bond with Garchomp, Rei encourages her to show Volo their full potential.

Steven's Adventures

At the mountain, Steven and Metagross come across Brandon. Brandon notes that the two seem as though they have come directly from an adventure, which Steven confirms is true. He explains that he deposited all of his Pokémon except for Metagross and traveled all over Pasio, overcoming many obstacles, including malevolent Trainers.

Steven reflects on his life as Champion and heir to the Devon Corporation, coming to the conclusion that neither of those roles helped him figure out who he really is. He suspects that Metagross shares this feeling, prompting Brandon to note that the two are on a journey of self-discovery. When Steven mentions that he is striving for greatness, Brandon is pleased. Noting that people with positions tend to avoid taking risks, he points out that Steven and Metagross have successfully rediscovered their sense of adventure.

Brandon then challenges Steven to a battle, sending out Regirock, Registeel, and Regice. Steven gladly accepts, smiling as he thinks of Metagross and himself taking on the world together. A heavenly light then shines from above.

Lance's Hardships

As Alder stands by, Lance battles Clair at the glacier, with his Dragonite facing off against her Gyarados, Dratini, and Kingdra. Dragonite is getting notably worn out, and Clair is surprised that Lance would still choose to battle her. This prompts Lance to bring up Red's harsh training on Mt. Silver. Inspired by Red and Blue, Lance claims he needs to approach his training like a challenger would, rather than a Champion. Dragonite appears to agree.

Clair hesitates, but sends her Pokémon at Dragonite. Dragonite sustains the attack, then launches one of his own, proceeding to defeat all of Clair's Pokémon at once. She praises Lance and suggests that he has trained enough, but he disagrees. He then calls on Alder to bring out his own Pokémon. Clair tries to reason with him, but Alder pauses, regarding the looks on Lance and Dragonite's faces. Alder then sends out Volcarona and commands it to use Hyper Beam, prompting Lance to command Dragonite to do the same. As he does so, a bright light shines over him.

A few days later, Lear announces the start of the Arceus Cup at the stadium.

The Arceus Cup Begins!

Lear reminds the audience of how Arceus's voice was heard at the stadium some time after sync stones ultimate began to shine. Volo, who is standing aside Benga and Wallace, smirks at the mention of this. Lear then explains that the purpose of the tournament is to provide contestants with the chance to respond to Arceus by showcasing the bonds they share with their Pokémon. He tells the audience that contestants are allowed to choose their opponents, but winning is not the goal—instead, being "deemed worthy by Arceus."

The competitors step forward, with Volo and the other challengers facing off against Cynthia, Steven, and Wallace. When Benga sees Lance, he commends him for putting himself and his Dragonite through enough. As Steven and Wallace exchange greetings, Wallace reminds Steven that he will be taking the title of Champion of Hoenn if Steven is defeated. Volo, meanwhile, notices a change in Cynthia, and sends out his Garchomp to face hers.

Lear commences the battle.

Outfits Blessed by Arceus

The battle begins, yet unlike most three-on-three battles held on Pasio, each Trainer fights an opponent individually. When Benga's Volcarona clashes with Lance's Dragonite, Benga enthuses about Lance's growth. Wallace notes Steven's increase in strength as well, prompting Steven to explain that his adventures have led him to strive to form the most powerful sync pair on Pasio.

As Volo and Cynthia face off, she is surprised how he remains so calm throughout their battle. Volo reveals that he has been training too, and while Cynthia admits he is a formidable opponent, she announces that she and Garchomp will never back away from a challenge. After she says this, a bright light shines down, and Cynthia is then shown wearing new, white clothes. When Lance and Steven also announce their desire to keep getting stronger with their partner Pokémon, light shines on them, and they become clothed in white as well.

Benga and Wallace are both impressed by their opponents' transformations, but Volo is only interested in the potential of the clothes. While initially shocked, Lear offers his congratulations to the Champions for showing the powerful bonds they share with their Pokémon.

Cynthia, Steven, and Lance proceed to defeat their opponents, causing Lear to announce both the end of the battle, and that these Trainers have succeeded in bringing out the power of the sync stones ultimate. He names their new outfits "arc suits," after Arceus. Benga, Wallace, and Volo offer their congratulations to the Champions, and the stadium erupts into applause.

Later that night, Cynthia and Rei meet to discuss the tournament. Cynthia notes that, despite their transformations, nothing happened to her and Garchomp, nor did they hear Arceus's voice. They begin to wonder what Arceus wanted from them, and Rei thinks to himself about what Volo's next steps will be.

Meanwhile, Volo walks through the town alone. With a nefarious smile on his face, he considers the potential of arc suits.

Area info

Area name	Unlock condition	Completion rewards
Cynthia's Conviction	Available from start	Gems ×10 Steven's Adventures
Steven's Adventures	Complete Cynthia's Conviction	Gems ×10 Lance's Hardships
Lance's Hardships	Complete Steven's Adventures	Gems ×10 The Arceus Cup Begins!
The Arceus Cup Begins!	Complete Lance's Hardships	Gems ×10 Outfits Blessed by Arceus
Outfits Blessed by Arceus	Complete The Arceus Cup Begins!	Gems ×10

Gallery

Artwork of Chapter 1

Music

Situation	Song key	Song name	Arrangement
In menu	No. 00004	Adventure Awaits!	Unknown
Cynthia's Conviction When Rei and Cynthia begin fighting	No. 04001	Battle! (Cynthia) (Pokémon Masters EX Version)	Haruki Yamada (ATTIC INC.)
Cynthia's Conviction After Rei and Cynthia's battle Steven's Adventures From start	No. 00010	Wild Wanderings	Unknown
Cynthia's Conviction When a space-time distortion appears	No. 00005	Danger!	Unknown
Cynthia's Conviction While the space-time distortion is active	—	Space-Time Distortion	Unknown
Cynthia's Conviction After the space-time distortion disappears	No. 00011	The Way Ahead	Unknown
Steven's Adventures While Steven talks about discovering himself	No. 00013	A Somber Moment	Unknown
Steven's Adventures When Steven and Brandon talk about adventure	No. 00050	Emotions Welling Up	Unknown
Steven's Adventures When Steven accepts Brandon's challenge to battle	No. 03001	Battle! (Steven) (Pokémon Masters EX Version)	Haruki Yamada (ATTIC INC.)
Lance's Hardships From start	No. 02001	Battle! (Johto Gym Leader) (Pokémon Masters EX Version)	Haruki Yamada (ATTIC INC.)
Lance's Hardships When Lance challenges Alder	No. 01004	Battle! (Lance) (Pokémon Masters EX Version)	Haruki Yamada (ATTIC INC.)
Lance's Hardships At the stadium The Arceus Cup Begins! From start	No. 00002	Pokémon Masters EX Main Theme	Unknown
Outfits Blessed by Arceus From start	—	Battle! Arena Trainer	Unknown
Outfits Blessed by Arceus After Lance responds to Benga during their battle	No. 00029	Battle! (Lance, Steven, and Cynthia) (Pokémon Masters EX Version)	Haruki Yamada (ATTIC INC.)
Outfits Blessed by Arceus When Cynthia expresses her determination to succeed	No. 04026	Glorious Battle! (Cynthia) (Pokémon Masters EX Version)	Unknown
Outfits Blessed by Arceus After the battle, when Lear names the arc suits	No. 00012	Let Your Spirit Soar!	Unknown
Outfits Blessed by Arceus While Rei and Cynthia are in the forest	No. 00008	Out for a Stroll	Unknown
Song names without a song key listed are unofficial, as they have not been added to the Jukebox.

Script

Cynthia's Conviction

Name	Text
(Ruins; Cynthia and Rei battle each other with Garchomp and Decidueye, respectively. Afterward, they have a conversation)
Cynthia	Thanks, Rei. You've given me valuable insight into Hisui's unique style of battling.
Rei	It was developed as a way to deal with Pokémon that were ruthlessly attacking people.
Cynthia	One could say it was born from the need to survive in harsh environments... I know one person who'd describe it that way, at least.
(Cynthia envisions Volo)
Cynthia	Say, Rei... You know Volo, don't you? Can you tell me more about him?
Rei	Hmm, well... I'd say he's an elusive person. He shows up out of nowhere to help or battle, then vanishes in a flash. But there's one thing I can say for sure...
Cynthia	What's that?
Rei	He genuinely loves Pokémon, mythology, ruins, and legends. He always seemed genuinely excited whenever we explored ruins in Hisui... and he was looking forward to the completion of my Pokédex. A lot's happened between us, but I don't think he was lying about those things.
Cynthia	I see... Thanks for sharing. I guess I'll try to find out more about him the next time we battle.
Rei	So the reason you're training so much is so you can beat Volo?
Cynthia	In part, yes. But I also want Garchomp and I to outshine our past selves. As Sinnoh Champions, and as a sync pair here on Pasio... I want us to overcome anything that might be holding us back! That way, we can see how bright our lights can shine!
Rei	Always aiming higher, even from the top, huh?
Cynthia	Well, I couldn't call myself a Champion if I didn't.
???	H-help me!
???	What's going on?!
Rei	That's a space-time distortion!
Cynthia	People are in danger! We've got to go help them!
Rei	Agreed!
(Cynthia and Rei run deeper into the ruins)
(A brief moment later, Cynthia and Rei are both surrounded by opposing Pokémon as they guard a Rising Star and Sightseer. Garchomp and Decidueye exchange blows with their numerous opponents)
Cynthia	(This isn't good—if I let my guard down, we could be taken out...) (And yet, I don't feel panicked.) (Knowing Garchomp is by my side puts my mind at ease.) (If there's one thing I'm certain of...) (it's that we know we can rely on one another in battle.) (And that trust we share is what empowers us both!)
(A bright light shines from above. The distortion vanishes)
Cynthia	We're safe now! Is anyone hurt?
Rising Star	No, we're fine! Thank you! U-um... I just wanted to say, you were so cool!
Sightseer	I hope my partner and I can share a bond as strong as yours and Garchomp's someday!
Cynthia	Thanks! I'm sure you will!
(The Rising Star and Sightseer wave goodbye, then exit)
Cynthia	(I'm certain now.) (The strength I seek can be found if I stay true to my own style!)
Rei	Cynthia... I could see the power of your bond come out in the way you and Garchomp battled together, and it was amazing! Let Volo see how you two shine!
Cynthia	I will.

Steven's Adventures

Name	Text
(Mountain; Steven and Metagross approach Brandon)
Brandon	Hello there, young explorer... You look as though you've just returned from quite the adventure!
Steven	Indeed we have—an adventure that tested our limits and deepened our potential. I deposited all my Pokémon except for Metagross. We traveled around Pasio—just the two of us—and trained very hard.
Brandon	Daring...but dangerous. If Metagross had fainted, your adventure could've ended then and there.
Steven	Precisely. We were ambushed some by^[sic] ill-intentioned Trainers who heard about our circumstances... but Metagross and I were able to handle it.
Brandon	That's great! You've done well!
Steven	Come to think of it, we haven't been that reckless in quite some time. As a Champion and an heir to a corporation, I've had many roles in my lifetime...... but none had given me the answer to who I truly was...who the real "me" was. I believe Metagross shares that curiosity. Metagross has the intelligence of a supercomputer... But even with its intelligence, I doubt it fully understands who it truly is.
Brandon	I see... So you've been on a journey of self-discovery.
Steven	I cast aside my labels and thought... "In this vast world, Metagross and I crossed paths and became a sync pair." Together with Metagross, the ultimate Steel-type Pokémon... all I want is for us to become the greatest there ever was. When I realized how deeply our feelings aligned, that was all the clarity I needed.
Brandon	Hahahah! Remarkable! Yes, that's grand, indeed! When you're out on an adventure, it doesn't matter who you are—a Champion, an heir to a corporation, a humble Trainer... One should always be ready and willing to take risks! Those with a position to maintain tend to shy away from risk. In doing so, they forget to shine—to embrace the spirit of adventure! But look at the two of you now! Even if it means sacrificing everything you've achieved, Steven... you're determined to become the strongest, together with Metagross! That's what courage and adventure is all about! How remarkable!
Steven	No matter your age or what role you have, it's important to be adventurous.
Brandon	Exactly! Now then, Steven! Bring your courage to our battle!
(Brandon sends out Regice, Registeel, and Regirock)
Brandon	Everything you have! I'm braced for it all!
Steven	Let's do this, Metagross! (As long as I'm with you, I'll continue to shine.) (Let's walk this world on our own feet...see it with our own eyes, and feel it in our hearts.)
(A bright light shines from above)

Lance's Hardships

Name	Text
(Glaciers; Lance and Dragonite battle Clair's Kingdra, Dragonair, and Gyarados)
Lance	We're not done yet! Bring it on!
Clair	You can't be serious. Both you and Dragonite are completely worn out!
Lance	Let me tell you something about Red.
Clair	Huh?
Lance	He apparently put himself through some harsh training atop Mt. Silver.
(Lance envisions Blue and Red)
Lance	I still remember how frustrating it was to lose to Red and Blue back in Kanto. Both Dragonite and I need to approach this like challengers, not Champions... and go through A LOT more!
Alder	... ... ...
Clair	Fine, if you insist! Everyone! Attack Dragonite!
Lance	Dragonite!
(Lance defeats Clair)
Clair	I can't believe he actually withstood that... Well done, Lance! I think you've had enough.
Lance	No, I'm not done yet. Then, Alder! Please step in and push us even harder!
Clair	Lance, be reasonable!
(Alder ponders Lance's request)
Alder	Understood.
Clair	Alder! ...Fine. Do what you want!
Alder	Here I come—Lance! Dragonite! Surpass your limits!
Lance	OK!
Alder	Volcarona, Hyper Beam!
Lance	Dragonite, Hyper Beam!
(A bright light shines from above)
Clair	Wh-what's that light?!
Alder	You did it!
A few days later...
(Stadium; Lear addresses the crowd)
Lear	To all the sync pairs here today, thank you for your patience! The Arceus Cup—a tournament to showcase the bonds between people and Pokémon for a deity—is finally here! And with that, we're ready to begin!
(The crowd cheers)

The Arceus Cup Begins!

Name	Text
(Stadium; Lear addresses the crowd)
Lear	I believe everyone heard the voice saying "show me thy bond" a while ago. It is highly likely that that was the voice of Arceus, the deified Pokémon. The voice was heard the moment the sync stones ultimate began to shine, but no one has been able to draw out their true power. I believe that Arceus's will is linked to the sync stones ultimate! Therefore, contestants will be asked to use them to show their bond with their Pokémon! The objective of this tournament is to respond to Arceus's voice! At the Arceus Cup, participants can choose their opponents! This tournament isn't about winning battles—it's about demonstrating the bond between you and your partner. To be considered a winner in this tournament, you must be deemed worthy by Arceus! Let's show the deified Pokémon just how strong the bonds of sync pairs can be!
(The crowd cheers)
Lear	Six Trainers will be competing in today's tournament in response to Arceus's voice. All competitors are here of their own volition and desire.
(The competitors get into postition)
Benga	Hey! I can tell just by looking at you... you and your Dragonite have been through a lot!
Lance	Yeah, it's all thanks to you.
Benga	We promised, remember? We're gonna compete with each other... And see who's stronger!
(Benga sends out Volcarona)
Lance	Yeah! We'll show you what a difference all that training has made when we face off in battle!
(Lance sends out Dragonite)
Steven	Hey, Wallace. I suppose it's time to show you firsthand the strength we found on our adventures.
Wallace	You've become stronger and more confident, Steven. But remember, if you're not strong enough, I'll be taking your seat as the Champion of Hoenn.
(Wallace sends out Milotic)
Steven	I know the stakes. Bring it on!
(Steven sends out Metagross)
Volo	Now, Cynthia... This time, we'll be battling in front of a crowd. Given your title as Champion, you can't afford to lose, can you?
Cynthia	You're right. But don't worry... we won't lose.
(Cynthia sends out Garchomp)
Volo	Oh? (It seems there's something more to her now...)
(Volo sends out Garchomp)
Lear	All right, everyone. Are you ready? Let the battle begin!
(The crowd cheers)

Outfits Blessed by Arceus

Name	Text
(Stadium; the competitors begin to battle)
The battle has finally begun, but it's starting with a bit of a shake-up! Rather than work together as a team of three... each Trainer has decided to take on another one-on-one!
(Benga and Lance battle with their Volcarona and Dragonite, respectively)
Benga	Hey! Hey! Hey! You've gotten a lot stronger!
Lance	You too! I can see you've gone through a lot! But there's no need for words now. This battle will determine who is the stronger of the two of us!
(Wallace and Steven battle with their Milotic and Metagross, respectively)
Wallace	I'm surprised, Steven. You and Metagross seem to have honed your skills even further! What happened with you two?
Steven	Our harsh adventures taught us something'.' We just need one goal... And that is to become the world's strongest sync pair—nothing else!
Wallace	It seems the greatest achievement of your adventures isn't your newfound strength... but your pure will to win. Allow me to respond to your determination! I'll show you plenty of the water illusions performed by me and my Pokémon!
(Volo and Cynthia battle with their Garchomps)
Volo	Well well! You're strong! Nothing like the last time we battled!
Cynthia	And yet you seem so calm. You think you're unbeatable, don't you?
Volo	I wouldn't say that. It's just that I'm not particularly fond of losing... So, yes. I plan to win'.' Besides, you're not the only one who's gotten stronger. We haven't been sitting around doing nothing, you know!
(The competitors continue battling)
Cynthia	As I expected, you're not someone who I can easily win against. But even so, both Garchomp and I are always aiming for the top! We'll continue to battle on even bigger stages and see how bright our lights can shine!
(A bright light shines from above. Cynthia dons her arc suit)
Lance	Dragons are sacred and legendary creatures. I'm proud to be partners with and battle beside one like you, Dragonite. As the strongest Trainer, I, Lance—the dragon master—accept your challenge!
(A bright light shines from above. Lance dons his arc suit)
Steven	Battling with Metagross fills me with inexplicable excitement. Our shared experiences allow us to polish our potential as a sync pair to a beautiful shine. And we'll shine as brilliantly as any precious stone!
(A bright light shines from above. Steven dons his arc suit)
Benga	What? What? WHAT?!
Wallace	What a glorious shine... It's breathtakingly beautiful.
Volo	(I sense a strong power coming from that light...) (Just as I thought!)
Lear	I-is this the true power of sync stones ultimate?! Heh, impressive. Congratulations, Champions, for mastering the power of the sync stones ultimate and establishing such strong bonds with your Pokémon!
Cynthia	Let's do this, Garchomp!
Lance	Now, Dragonite!
Steven	Let's go, partner!
(Cynthia, Lance, and Steven command their Pokémon to attack. A bright light shines from above. Their opponents' Pokémon faint)
Lear	That's it! The battle is over! A beautiful, powerful, captivating battle at that! What's more, the Champions have drawn out the true power of the sync stones ultimate by deepening their bonds with their Pokémon! Those outfits have been blessed by Arceus... Let's call them...arc suits!
(The crowd cheers)
Wallace	I must admit—all three of you put on a beautiful display of power! We all had a genuine desire to win. However, if the power of your bonds was the deciding factor in who won and who lost, then I gracefully admit my defeat!
Benga	Yeah! That was an awesome battle!
Volo	I agree! There's no doubt that your powers were truly incredible! ...Incredible, indeed.
Cynthia	Thank you.
Lance	The bonds you and your Pokémon showed us were also impressive!
Steven	I hope we continue to inspire each other... to keep shining as brightly as we possibly can as sync pairs!
Let's give another round of applause to these three sync pairs who clinched a victory with their sync stones ultimate!
(The crowd cheers)
(Transition to Rei and Cynthia in the forest)
Rei	The excitement in the arena when you revealed your arc suits was incredible!
Cynthia	Yes, it was. But I couldn't help but notice something... Other than us transforming into our arc suits, nothing particularly happened. We didn't hear Arceus's voice this time, nor did it appear. Were our bonds still not strong enough?
Rei	Or maybe it was expecting a different outcome? Either way, it's not exactly clear what kind of "bond" Arceus wants to see... (Arceus's will, huh...) (I bet Volo's already up to something. He probably even expects something will happen.) (I wonder what he plans to do next to make Arceus his own...)
(Transition to city; Volo looks off at the stadium)
Volo	Outfits blessed by Arceus...
(Fade to black)
Volo	Arc suits, huh...

In other languages

Chapter 1

Language		Title
Japanese		第１章
Mandarin Chinese		第１章
French		Chapitre 1
German		Kapitel 1
Italian		Capitolo 1
Korean		제1장
Spanish		Capítulo 1

Three Champions

Language		Title
Japanese		３人のチャンピオン
Mandarin Chinese		３位冠軍
French		Trois Maîtres
German		Drei Champs
Italian		I tre Campioni
Korean		3명의 챔피언
Spanish		Tres Campeones

This article is part of Project Sidegames, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Sidegames.