The peak of Iron Mountain wasn't particularly welcoming to anyone. The mountain itself was made of bitterly cold rock and steel where Pokémon and their trainers would come to test their strength. While it was unlikely to snow on this mountain, thanks to the immense amounts of gas emitted from the Iron Colosseum on a regular basis, it would on occasion rain and make the peak of the mountain even tougher to endure. Such were the conditions when Michael and his Dragonite flew to the mountain's peak, following the voice that had summoned them there. As soon as Rhaegar landed on the mountain's peak, he sniffed around for someone, growling quietly to himself. Michael climbed off of his loyal Pokémon's back and put his hand on the Dragon's back.

"Keep your eyes open" he told the Dragonite.

Rhaegar chuffed in approval and looked around for the source of whoever had summoned them to Iron Mountain in the first place. Michael joined in the search, the cold winds ripping at his face. The two walked around the entirety of the peak, but there was no one there waiting for them. The Dragonite came up to Michael's side and grumbled.

"You're not the only one" Michael answered, as if completely understanding his Pokémon. "Ugh! This is a waste of time! We should be headed to Taghwan to see Piper!" He turned to his Dragonite. "Let's go!" The Dragonite nodded and lowered his back so Michael could climb atop it.

"Time is always wasted when one doesn't know what they seek" the woman's voice called out.

Michael slid off his Dragonite. "Who's there? Show yourself!" He searched for the source of the voice, finding her standing to his left, looking down the slope of Iron Mountain. She wore the clothing Michael immediately identified as those worn by the formerly powerful band known as Team Magma. Dragonite roared. Michael came to his Pokemon's side and glared at the woman. She simply continued looking down the slope of the mountain.

"It really is remarkable, isn't it" she spoke, her voice soft and almost hypnotic. "One can have all the power in the universe at their fingertips and never know it, because they allow the outside world to shackle them so effortlessly."

"Who are you?" Michael asked, his curiosity piqued.

She continued to not look at him. "Does it matter? You are already eager to battle me, Michael. What difference would it make if I told you who I was?"

"Wait a minute. You're Courtney! The one who's fighting to defend Cassius in court!"

The woman grinned. "It's a pleasure, Champion."

The Dragonite roared once more, leaping to Michael's side. "Why are you involving yourself in this?"

"My reasons are none of your concern, Michael, especially when we both want the same thing."

Michael folded his arms. "Somehow, I doubt that."

"Do we both not want Elezar and Cassius done away with?"

Michael raised his eyebrow. "You're the one fighting to keep Cassius out of a prison cell. You're the one who sent Claude Jacques his way. If you really wanted to bring Elezar and Cassius down, why would you be aiding in their cause?"

Courtney finally turned to face him. "You honestly trust the same judicial process that once deemed you an enemy of Arcana? You can stand there, knowing all that you do about how corrupt and crooked Arcana is, and tell me that you believe that Cassius will be given the justice he deserves? I thought you were more clever than that."

Michael grunted. "It may be a weak system, but it's the best system we have. I have to trust in it."

"If you truly trusted in the system" Courtney told him, "you would have stayed away after Giselle banished you. You don't trust it. That's why you want as many things to go right in this case as they can. You've removed yourself as a prosecutor and given that position to your cousin. Admirable, if not naïve. There are still lessons even a powerful trainer like you can still learn. And the greatest truth is that the only person you can truly depend on is yourself and those who want the same thing you do. Not sycophantically, but one who is willing to go above and beyond where you seek to go. Your unshaken faith in those you surround yourself in will no doubt unravel on you."

"How did you know that I handed the duties over to my cousin?" Michael asked. The only people who know about that are The Elite Four and Leonard. How could Courtney possible know?

"I am a telepath" she told Michael. "I can delve into people's minds and read their secrets, their fears, their deepest desires. I can tell you harbor a deep hatred of Cassius and Elezar. And with good reason. After what the two did to you, I'd be shocked if you didn't secretly crave their destruction."

"It doesn't matter what I want" Michael insisted. "All that matters is that those two and anyone affiliated with them get the justice that they deserve."

Courtney giggled. "And who's going to deliver on that justice, Michael? Exactly who do you think you can rely on to get the job done besides yourself? Everyone you surround yourself with has an ulterior motive for working with you. Everyone. From your friends in the Pokemon League, down to those in your own family, including those two young cousins you sent out on their own Pokemon Journeys."

Michael turned away from her. "You don't know what you're talking about. I know who I can depend on. Who I can trust. And that person isn't you."

"You know this?" Courtney asked him. "What have I done to antagonize you? I am keeping Cassius out of prison because I can see that he will one day walk out of that prison, changed very little. He will go back to terrorizing people in Arcana all in the pursuit of his research. Can you truly live with yourself if more people are afflicted with the same miserable existence as yours? What if he targets your cousins?"

Michael clenched his fists. "I can assure you, I will never allow that to come to pass."

"It's happening before you" she told him. "Even as we speak, the Syndicate is observing those closest to you and prying them away from your side. The power of the Crimson Moon grows each and every day we walk this earth. You won't be able to protect everyone when that day comes. Not unless you act quickly."

Michael now focused all of his attention on her. "And why do you want Elezar and Cassius destroyed?"

Courtney turned her back to him and continued to look down the slope of Iron Mountain. "Those two are irredeemable. The dark aura they give off isn't particularly warming to one's heart. And their shadows are in the minds of everyone you believe loyal to you. They will pry your friends and loved ones away from you, until all you have left is the unyielding rage in your heart. And when that is all you hold onto, Michael, it will inevitably destroy you. You will become the perfect servant of Elezar, like he always planned for you."

Michael shook his head. "Not gonna happen."

Courtney walked in front of him. "You have confidence in your friends. Do you not think that it is misplaced?"

"Misplaced?"

"Yes, misplaced. As I told you before, the only person you can truly rely on is yourself and your own power. Even those you hold closest to your heart will turn their backs on you. I have seen it."

Michael scoffed at her. "Unlikely."

Courtney smiled softly. "Then perhaps you need a demonstration of my power." She took a deep breath and relaxed her body. She then closed her eyes and held out her hands. "Take my hands."

Michael lurched away from her. "No."

As if against her own will, Courtney grabbed his wrists and gripped them tightly. Michael tried to rip his hands free from her, but her grip on him was firm. As he tried desperately to free himself, Courtney's voice echoed in his mind. But these were words she had never spoken to him before. It was as if she was indeed contacting him with her mind:

A shadow looms over Arcana

Beyond your power to control

The Moon will blind you

While it takes from others

Thrice shall you be betrayed

The First, You know but refuse to see

The Second, You have always Seen but refuse to believe

The Third you will not see

As your Fate will already have been sealed

By Shadows and Flame

Michael's eyes widen in terror as she projects her vision onto his mind. His brain did it's best to wrap itself around each warning Courtney had provided him with, but he cannot tell who or what would unfold when. He guessed that he would be betrayed by someone. But who did he have unshaken faith in that would betray him? Who could he never depend on? Was she leaving it vague on purpose? Or was she truly only capable of seeing some parts of the future with any clarity?

As if surfacing from swimming in the water, Courtney took a deep breath and returned to normal. She let go of one of Michael's hands and used it to remove her Team Magma helm and massage her temple. When she recovered, she looked at Michael. "Did you hear my vision?"

"I heard what you said" Michael grunted, trying to clear his mind of it all. "But that doesn't mean I have to believe in it."

"No" she told him. "It does not."

Michael resumed trying to free his hand from her grasp. "Then why should I take anything I just heard seriously?"

"Because I am not your enemy, Michael" she told him. "I want to help you. But for me to be able to help you, you must also help yourself." She came to his side and led him over to the edge of Iron Mountain. Rhaegar growled, but followed his trainer and Courtney. "The Crimson Brand the two of them gave you is not a curse, but a blessing. They hoped to be able to control you, but in their haste to have a supremely powerful Pokémon Trainer at their beck and call, they allowed an enemy to possess colossal powers the two of them still have no real comprehension of."

Michael tried to find the right words to say, but could not bring himself to say them, because in some bizarre way, the words Courtney told him were beginning to make sense.

"Elezar and Cassius look at their work and only see a servant" she continued. "The people of Arcana look at you and see a Super Hero. When I look at you, I see someone who can so easily accomplish his heart's desire and destroy his enemies."

"And what does my heart desire?" Michael asked, trying to retain some of his shaken confidence.

Courtney shook her head. "That's for you to find out, Michael. Look deep inside yourself and ask that question and also ask who is answering back: the little boy who dreamed of being a Pokémon Master or the man who knows exactly what that dream entails." She looked to him and smiled faintly. "There is an alternative path, of course."

"Alternative path?" Michael asked her, stopping his attempts to free himself from her.

"A way to avoid my prophecy from becoming true" she told him. "Destiny is a fickle mistress. Every choice we make on our journey impacts our futures. What we choose to believe in, who we choose to be with and where we place our loyalties and hearts. We all are the pilots of our own destiny, so we can be both our greatest savior and our own reaper." She moved in front of him, her eyes piercing him like daggers. "You have a choice to save yourself and override the dark foretelling I offered you."

"What would I have to do?"

"Elezar and Cassius want to control you" she explained. "They want this because they fear you. They fear the gift they gave you turning around and destroying them. They know you have the power to do so. Their only reprieve is that they believe you do not have the gumption to actually use this gift to destroy them."

Michael lowered his head. "You want me to use the power of the Crimson Fury against them?"

Courtney grinned. "It doesn't have to come to that, as of right now."

"Huh?" Michael eyed her curiously.

"Not if we join together" Courtney told him. "The Syndicate is not as strong as Elezar thinks it is. It's power dwindles while yours only continues to grow. If you and I were to combine our forces, we would be able to destroy the Syndicate and stop any in Arcana from trying to hurt and harm others."

Michael eyed her in surprise. "Join with you?"

"Yes, Michael" Courtney replied, once more grabbing his hands. "If we joined our powers together, there wouldn't be a force in Arcana strong enough to stop us. Elezar and Cassius would be destroyed. Nothing else would matter. Just you and me, sitting over all of Arcana and ruling it, side by side."

Michael laughed. "I would never fight my enemies only to become them, Courtney."

Courtney sighed. She then took something out of her pocket and pressed it into Michael's hand and letting go of him. "You have chosen your path, Michael Kingston. You will continue as you see fit. But know this: denying yourself this path may haunt you in the future. Remember that your first will come to pass sooner than you think."

Michael looked at the mysterious object she put into his hand. "What is this?"

"Should you ever wish to seek me out once more to reconsider my offer" Courtney told him, "all you need do is press the insignia on that device and you and I will meet here once more. But, there is one thing."

As he inspected the device in it's entirety, including the Team Magma insignia on it's face, a small needle appeared as if out of nowhere and pricked Michael's finger. A small droplet of blood fell from his finger onto the device, causing it to shine in recognition and then revert back to normal. "What did that do?" Michael demanded.

"A security measure" Courtney winked. "This will ensure that you and only you have the power to contact me. Take care of it and heed my warning, Michael."

Michael looked from her to the device in his hands. The volcanic "M" insignia was unmistakably the same that had been used by Team Magma in Hoenn not too long ago. Rhaegar came over to his trainer's side and started to lick Michael's wound. Michael patted his Dragonite on his head. When he turned to see where Courtney was, she had vanished.

{Meanwhile}

Battered and slammed by the attacking Gyarados, but still undaunted, Ralph piloted his sailboat all the way from Mt. Heatmor to the Northern Outpost without much of a hassle. His ship had certainly taken a beating from the rampaging Water Pokémon, but it wasn't irreparable damage. Just a few repairs to the mast and the starboard side and he would be able to make his way back out onto the open waters.

"Well that certainly was an adventure" Addison said as their ship rounded the bend and began to make it's approach at the Northern Outpost.

"I'll say" Ryan said, still ringing out his bandanna of the salt water he'd taken in. They would certainly have been in hot water had Ryan's Eevee not mustered the courage to face the dangers and evolved into a Jolteon. The Electric Pokémon sent the Gyarados back into the water with his powerful Electric attacks and saved the day. In fact, since the battle with the Gyarados, his newly named Sparks had a completely different personality. No longer a timid Eevee, the Jolteon now had a personality that mirrored his trainer's: adventurous and brave. The Jolteon now rested inside his Poké Ball for his next challenge.

Ralph steered the ship into harbor and brought it to a slow halt as they approached the docks. "Alright ye lot! Drop anchor!" The Machokes saluted their captain and dropped the anchor onto the seafloor. As it smashed onto the ground, the ship reared back slightly, but stopped right beside the docks. "All ashore that goes ashore!"

Ryan walked over to the steps that led to Ralph's helm. "I can't thank you enough, Ralph."

"Nonsense, lad" the sailor replied. "After your Jolteon drove off them Gyarados, ye saved me ship and me life." He looked around at the messy shape his boat was in and laughed. "I'd say I'll take ye out again, but it'll be a bit before me ship is ready for the seas again."

Ryan nodded. "I'll be sure to look out for you. Do you need any help with the ship?"

The Captain waved him off. "Nothing a lad like you could do, me boy. Besides, you two have a journey to get along to and a Professor who is expecting you in Alchemiburg. Better get a move on."

Ryan saluted. "Aye aye, captain." He tightened the still dripping bandanna around his head, gathered his bag and climbed onto the docks, pulling Addison up behind him.

"Thank you, Ralph" Addison called back.

"Tis a pleasure, me lady" he saluted.

With that, the two trainers were off on their own again. The Northern Outpost wasn't much to look at. There were a few docks for ships to pull into whenever they needed to, but the port seemed to be remarkably quiet these days. Realizing that the town was likely relying on the Pocus Town Ferry crowd for tourism, Ryan and Addison couldn't help but feel sorry for them. Aside from the docks, there were a few buildings including a small fishing market as well as a Bed and Breakfast that claimed to have the best view of the coast in all of Arcana.

"Did you want to see anything in the market, Addy?" Ryan asked.

Addison shook her head. "It sounds fun, but we need to get to your aunt in Alchemiburg."

Ryan nodded. "Okay, then let's go!" The two walked right out of the Northern Outpost and found themselves back on course for their journey. As they walked, a Poké Ball on Ryan's belt popped out and opened. Sandshrew tumbled out of the Pokémon Ball and looked around restlessly for something. "Sandshrew? What are you doing out here?"

The Pokémon turned and saw his trainer and ran over to him, hugging his leg. Addison laughed. "I think he doesn't want to be in a Poké Ball, just yet. He misses his Mama."

Ryan sighed. "Really?" The Sandshrew nodded and tried to climb up onto Ryan's shirt again. He picked up his growing Ground Pokémon and held it in his hands. "You're lucky you're still a little kid."

Addison poked the Sandshrew in his nose. "He's just lucky he's so cute."

From out of the bushes, a Pokémon burst out and growled at them. This caused the Sandshrew to bury his head into his trainer. Ryan and Addison eyed the Pokémon curiously. It was big, round and black and had buck teeth as if it were a large rodent.

"What is that?" Ryan remarked.

"I'm not sure" Addison said. "I've never seen it before. It looks like a Raticate, but it's not the right color. Whatever it is, it's certainly an angry Pokémon." The attacking Pokémon growled and stood in front of them on their path towards Alchemiburg. "I don't think this thing is going to let us pass."

"We can go around" Ryan told her. The two and their frightened Sandshrew tried to go past the Pokémon, but it blocked their way forward no matter which way they turned. It refused to even allow them to come close to it without bearing it's teeth and claws at them. Frustrated, Ryan put his Sandshrew into Addison's arms and pulled out his Jolteon's Pokémon Ball. "Alright, you weird looking Pokémon. If it's a battle you want-"

"WAIT!" a voice called out from the same bushes the Pokémon had emerged from. "Skullz, if you're causing more trouble, you won't get any Poffins for a week, so help me!" A woman emerged from the bushes to look over the situation. She had short black hair and wore a thick pair of goggles that seemed more made for flying than for seeing. While she was in normal every day clothing, her purse bore the insignia of the Pokemon League.

When the Pokémon looked at his trainer, he stopped acting hostile and trotted over to her side and rubbed his head against her leg. "I should have known you were getting yourself into trouble." She looked back towards Ryan and Addison. "I'm sorry this little imp got in your way."

While Ryan was focused on the woman, Addison answered. "It's okay. We were just curious as to what it was. I've never seen a Pokémon like that before."

The woman looked down at the Pokémon by her leg. "That's because he isn't from around here. You see-"

"WAIT A MINUTE!" Ryan shouted, causing both Addison and the woman to jump back in surprise. Ryan, in absolute awe, pointed at the woman. "You're-you're-you're-"

Addison smacked Ryan upside his head. "What's the matter with you? Didn't your parents tell you it's rude to point?"

Ryan rubbed his head where Addison had smacked him. "Addy, you don't understand. This isn't just an ordinary trainer. This is-this is-this is-"

Addison stepped in front of Ryan and addressed the woman. "I am so sorry. You'll have to excuse my friend."

The woman seemed relieved. "No trouble at all. He does seem almost a little out of it." The Pokémon by her side growled once more at Addison and Ryan, but stopped when his trainer glared at him. He then reverted to being a good boy and hid behind her legs. "Well, we'll let you go on your way. Come on, Skullz!"

"YOU'RE LIZZIE!" Ryan exclaimed.

The woman sighed. "I should have known trying to take some quiet time wouldn't help."

Addison shot a look at Ryan. "What's wrong with you?"

"But Addy, that's THE LIZZIE!"

"She clearly didn't want to be found" she replied.

Lizzie shook her head. "No, it's okay. I should have known better. I guess with the stress of running the Pokémon League, I thought I could use a little time off before all the major battles took place." She shrugged. "Can't win them all, I suppose."

"Lizzie the Legendary" Ryan remarked.

"The Legendary?" Lizzie repeated.

Ryan pushed past Addison. The Pokémon behind Lizzie fidgeted slightly when Ryan came up to his trainer. "Of course! That's what all the kids call you guys. Everyone in the Elite Four has their own nicknames." He began to do poses as if those were the ones that the Elite Four did before they entered battles, while both Lizzie and Addison looked on, embarrassed for Ryan and for themselves for having to witness Ryan's fanboyness in person. "Lizzie the Legendary, Chris the Crass, Cameron the Cunning and Mark the Magnificent!"

Lizzie laughed. "Well, those certainly are nicknames."

"I'm sorry" Ryan remarked, "but I'm a HUGE FAN of the Elite Four and Mike. You guys are all amazing!"

"Well, we certainly appreciate your fandom" Lizzie answered kindly.

"I'm Ryan. Ryan Kingston."

Lizzie blinked. "Ryan? Well I'll be. It really is you."

Now, it was Ryan's turn to be confused. "Wait, you know me?"

Lizzie nodded. "I haven't seen you since you were a baby, though." She looked him over. "Funny, you don't look much like the other Kingstons. You look more like your mother."

"You know my mother?"

"Of course I do. I am a member of the Elite Four and a friend of the Champion. How could I not know all of the Kingstons?"

"Wait" Addison asked Lizzie. "If you're in the Elite Four, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the Pokémon League?"

Lizzie turned down to her Pokémon, who had hopped back to her side. "I'm taking some time off to train this little guy. I went to Alola on some business for the Pokémon League a few months ago. When I got aboard the boat for my trip home, I found this little guy going through some of the cargo. Rather than have the Pokémon caged up for eating a few berries bound for Arcana, I decided to take him in. He's a little tricky to manage, but I hope he's getting to be a bit better."

"He kind of reminds me of my Venonat" Addison remarked, before realizing he had never introduced herself. "I'm sorry. Where are my manners? I'm Addison Tenton."

Lizzie nodded. "Nice to meet you."

"So you mean to say this guy is from Alola?" Ryan asked, looking at Skullz.

Lizzie nodded. "Raticates are usually found everywhere, but this one is the Alolan variant. Some regions have their own specific kinds of Pokémon variants. I know Michael uses a Zigzagoon he caught in Galar and I know Chris has an Alolan variant of an Exeggutor."

"So it is a Raticate" Addison remarked. "I never knew they could look like that?"

"I didn't either" Lizzie answered, "until I first went to Alola."

"I think I would be afraid of leaving the people I care about behind" Addison said solemnly. "I don't know if I could ever do it."

"Personally, I think everyone should do it at least once" Lizzie told the young trainers. "I mean, look at me. I'm from Hoenn, yet I'm part of the Pokémon League in Arcana. Sometimes, you find out what you're needed to do when you see the world. Sometimes, it's being a Pokémon Master. Other times, it's being there for your friends."

"You helped Mike defeat Giselle Odelia" Ryan exclaimed.

Lizzie nodded. "Yup. But when I first met Mike, I never thought it would lead me to the other side of the world to fight a tyrant. That's life for you, though. You don't always get what you want, but you almost always get what you need." She patted the Raticate by her legs. "And that's the kind of thing I expect when I look at Skullz here. I know he isn't from here, but I think that's what matters the most to him. And if he gets to be stronger, he may one day fit into my team I use in the Pokémon League."

"Maybe I can help?" Ryan asked.

"How can you help?" she replied.

"If your Raticate battles me in a 1 on 1 match, it will toughen him up" Ryan suggested.

Addison sighed. "You've been itching for a battle since beating Tori."

Lizzie shrugged. "I see no reason why it can't work. You're on, Ryan." The three headed for a more open part of the road to avoid any damage to trees or bushes. Addison sat by the side with Ryan's Sandshrew rolling around next to her. Ryan and Lizzie faced each other down. "Let's battle! Come out Skullz!" The Alolan Raticate jumped in front of his trainer.

Ryan pulled Sparks' Poké Ball from his belt. "Go, Sparks!" The Jolteon emerged quickly from the Poké Ball and growled as it faced the Raticate. "Sparks, use Thunder Shock!" The Jolteon shot a charge of Electrical Energy right at the opposing Pokémon. But the Raticate sprinted away from the attack and appeared on the other side of the battlefield.

"Skullz, use Sucker Punch!" Lizzie commanded. The Raticate, as if appearing from nowhere, came right in front of the Jolteon and punched him in the face, knocking him backwards. The Jolteon recovered and shot out sparks of electrical energy.

"Sparks, use Thundershock again!" Sparks sent another stream of electrical energy at Skullz, this time striking him in the head. The Dark/Normal Pokémon tumbled backwards, heaving a bit as it had to absorb the powerful attack. The Jolteon barked happily.

"Skullz!' Lizzie called, but the Raticate rolled to his feet on his own time and gave Sparks a truly Scary Face. The anger in the Raticate's face chilled the Jolteon and made it less likely to attack. "Skullz, use Quick Attack!" The Raticate moved rapidly to strike at the Jolteon.

"Sparks!" Ryan called. "Dodge it!" But the Jolteon moved too slowly and was hit hard by the powerful blow from Skullz. The Electrical Pokémon cartwheeled back to its feet and barked in defiance. "Alright, now! Sparks, use Thundershock!" Another blast of Electrical energy struck the Raticate painfully and sent it tumbling backwards.

Infuriated, the Raticate began stomping on the ground viciously. Lizzie eyed her Pokémon in awe. "Skullz? Are you trying to-"

The Raticate charged angrily towards Ryan's Jolteon and collided with him, stomping the Electrical Pokémon into the ground in fury. It's powerful Stomping Tantrum made the Jolteon yelp in pain, until the dust clouded the entire battlefield. A random spark of electricity knocked the Raticate backwards, but it recovered. It was clearly exhausted, heaving heavily as the dust began to clear. Sparks was still in the ground, unable to stand up.

Ryan slid over to Sparks's side. "Aw, you did great, buddy" Ryan told his exhausted Pokémon.

Addison came over to Ryan to console him. "It's okay, Ry. You don't need to feel down. Everyone loses."

Ryan eyed her curiously. "I'm okay, Addy."

"You-you are?"

"Yeah. I know I still need to learn a lot more than I do to beat someone in the Elite Four" Ryan told his friend. "And so does Sparks."

"That's a good way to look at it" Lizzie told Ryan. "There's always someone out there who can beat you. You need to keep pushing yourself and your Pokémon to see how far you can go. And judging from the way you two handled yourselves, I think you can hold your own against Erin in Alchemiburg."

Ryan gave the Elite Four member a thumbs up. "Thanks Lizzie."