Holly and Addison spend the next two hours in the Alchemiburg Spa, all paid for by Mr. Queensbury. Over their entire spa session, Addison is subjected to all of the rigmarole of Contest Upkeep, from manicures and hair styles, down to spending time in a hot tub with her one and only female friend. While Holly seemed most comfortable with each moment of their spa day, her friend couldn't help but feel out of place despite her desire to follow in her mother's footsteps and become the Queen of Arcana.

While the two sat in the hot tub purifying and cleansing themselves, both girls described what had befallen them since they parted ways at the Research Facility. While Addison had gone through plenty of dangerous obstacles and unexpected adventures while following Ryan across Arcana, Holly had spent the time enjoying the splendors of upper class life, taking the time to begin to develop her plans for her choreography.

"My Eevee and I are working on perfecting our craft" Holly told her, resting by the wall of the hot tub. "It's really important to get to know what yours and your own Pokémon's strengths are."

Addison nodded. "I see. I need to get some work done myself."

Holly eyed her curiously. "If you do, why are you traveling with Ryan?"

Addison looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?"

Holly sighed. "Addy, Ryan's my friend too. But if you seriously want to contend to become a Queen of Arcana, I'm not so sure that traveling with him is the best thing for you. Queens can't be running around and sleeping in the dirt."

Addison lowered her head. "I can't leave Ryan. He's my best friend. We promised we'd go on this journey together."

"I understand that, but don't you want to see if you can one day succeed Piper as Queen of Arcana?"

Addison closed her eyes. "I don't know. I mean, this is something I want to accomplish. I want to be like my Mom and become a Queen of Arcana."

Holly, seeing the conflict in her friend, chooses not to press the matter. "Eh, never mind. You'll have time to spend with him while you guys stay here. You are going to be training underneath Erin, right?"

Addison nodded, her mood slightly improving. "Yeah. And Ryan is going to take her on in a Gym Battle. You'll get to see him if you stick around."

Holly laughed. "Of course I'm sticking around. If you're going to learn from a master like Erin, so am I."

Addison grinned. "I look forward to having someone that rivals me."

Both friends break out into laughter as they enjoy more time on their special spa day.

{Meanwhile}

While waiting outside for Erin to arrive and commence the Queen of Arcana Pokémon Contests, Lizzie, Ryan and Chris stand by the Alchemiburg Pokémon Center.

Ryan's Sandshrew pops itself out of his Poké Ball once more and starts to sniff around for food or his caretakers. Upon turning around and seeing Ryan, the baby Pokémon wraps himself around his trainer's leg. Ryan rolls his eyes and picks up the Pokémon, who tries to immediately latch himself onto his preferred spot on Ryan's shirt.

"Can't you stay in your Pokémon Ball?" Ryan remarked.

"Got a plucky Sandshrew, eh?" Chris asked.

"Ever since he hatched from his egg" the young trainer explained, "he's been so attached to me and Addison. I thought he would get over it, but I think I was wrong." The Sandshrew tried his hardest to overpower his trainer to cling to his stomach, but Ryan remains strong enough to keep them separate.

"Most Wild Pokémon aren't separated from their parents for at least a few weeks" Lizzie explained. "We're used to it now with all the breeding that we take part in, but Pokémon are just like us. They usually need that time with their parents until they become strong enough to fight on their own. It seems your Sandshrew is on that same line." She folded her arms and laughed. "Savor these moments. Because if you don't bond with the Sandshrew, he'll probably start rebelling against you."

Ryan looked down at his Sandshrew, who was nibbling on his shirt. "I bet you're hungry." When the Ground Pokémon yelped excitedly, Ryan nodded to his friend. "Alright then. I'll go and get you some berries to eat."

Lizzie is about to tell Ryan where to find some, but her Poké Gear goes off again and she looks at the message she had received. It was another one from Michael. "Oh boy" she said aloud as Ryan and his Pokémon venture off in search of berries.

"What's up?" Chris asked.

Lizzie sighed as she skimmed through the message. "It's from Mike. I'm not gonna lie, I'm starting to think the whole Walter O'Hara show thing is a very bad idea."

"Did he find something?" her friend asked.

"The woman who hired Claude to defend Cassius in the trial has been in contact with Mike. She might have been involved with a criminal syndicate back in Hoenn. He hasn't said why she contacted him, but it can't be for anything good."

"Where is he now?" Chris asked.

"He's on his way here" Lizzie explained.

Chris shook his head. "I'll have Cam and Mark intercept him and take him to Titanio TV Station. We need to be at the station before The O'Hara Hour gets going at 6:00 tonight."

Lizzie sighed. "We really shouldn't be doing this."

"We don't have a choice" Chris remarked. "It's better to get it over with now than to keep letting that swaddling pig open his mouth on TV. And so long as we let my Sister do the talking, we should be in good shape."

{A Moment Later}

Ryan walked out of the Pokémon Center, his Sandshrew happily eating from a bag of berries while resting in Ryan's arms. As he headed back for his cousin and Lizzie's side, he saw them in deep discussion about something. "Are you guys okay?"

Chris nodded. "Yep. I just wish Aunt Erin would get this over with. We need to be in Titanio City."

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind if we missed out on this" Lizzie said.

"We don't have much of a choice" Chris answered. He patted his cousin on his back. "Make sure you tell Aunt Erin why we left when she finally shows up, eh Ry?"

"Gotcha" Ryan promised.

Chris turned to Lizzie. "You've got a ride?"

Lizzie nodded. "I wouldn't just come out here with my Raticate, Chris. Come on now." She recalled her Raticate into it's Poké Ball and then called forth her Salamence. Ryan fell back in sheer awe of the enormous Dragon, only to tumbled even further backwards when Chris called out his own flying steed, Charizard. His tumble backwards prompted his Sandshrew to spill the bag of berries Ryan had just bought, but the baby Pokémon was too afraid to notice his lunch was missing.

Chris mounted his Charizard and looked to his cousin. "We'll meet up again."

"You know it" Ryan remarked.

Lizzie turned to Ryan as she climbed atop her Salamence. "Take care, Ryan."

"You too, Lizzie" Ryan said, waving to the two as they took off into the skies above he city.

Finally, the Sandshrew noticed he had lost his berries and started to cry. Ryan did his best to sooth his crying Pokémon, but the Sandshrew continued to bawl his eyes out.

"Come on, Sandshrew" Ryan remarked. "You can't cry over split berries."

"That one certainly cries a lot, doesn't he?" a voice called from nearby. Ryan turned to see Professor Julia coming up to greet him.

"Julia!" Ryan remarked happily.

"I was beginning to wonder if you two had actually gotten here" Julia said. "Ralph told me about how your Eevee drove off a pack of Gyarados. Or, should I say your Jolteon."

Ryan nodded. "Yup. My Eevee evolved when it saw we were in danger."

"That shows just how close you and your Pokémon have become so quickly" Julia told him. "Michael and I are proud of you."

"Is Mike coming here?"

Julia shook her head. "No. Michael's running errands. And that's all he told me."

"So you're here for the commencement?"

"Partially" Julia explained. "I usually catch it on the television, because I want to support Piper. But your Aunt invited me over for dinner. So, at least for the evening, we're all going to be in the same place."

"That's good. I want to challenge my Aunt as soon as possible."

"Yoo-hoo!" Holly called to the two, walking her way over to them with Addison close behind her. "Professor! My Eevee is doing really well. I have a feeling we will be really tough to beat in the Queen of Arcana Contests!"

"Glad to hear, Holly" Julia remarked. "I'm sure I'll be watching you and Addison competing against Piper."

Ryan looked at Addison. While not entirely dressed up or looking different, Ryan could tell his friend had certainly done something to make her look better for Pokemon Contests. "Did you enjoy the spa?"

"Ye-yeah. I did." Her answer signaled that she was in another place mentally.

"You okay, Addy?"

"Huh? Oh yeah. I'm okay. I just have a lot on my mind. Sorry."

"All good, Addy."

"So Addison" Julia called on the other girl, "how have you been doing?"

Addison looked up to her. "Professor. I think I've been doing well. Trying to keep Ryan in line."

"HEY!" Ryan snapped.

"Either way" Julia answered. "You all have come pretty far since you all got your Eevees from the lab. And I can't wait to see what you all do with your journeys. But the most important thing for you guys isn't that you succeed in everything, but that you learn about yourselves as you do. Part of me thinks that is why Matthew went off on his own."

Ryan nodded. He was about to comment on his brother, but a medieval horn blares nearby. From the road nearby, a Galarian Rapidash trots down the road, neighing politely as it passed by the bystanders. Atop the Rapidash's back was a woman who looked similar to Julia, but a bit more fair. She had long straight brown hair and wore a silver and white dress. Atop her head was a crystal tiara. She waved and blew kisses to everyone she saw as she made her way to the center of town. Even Ryan couldn't help but blush when their eyes met.

Julia folded her eyes and smiled. "Piper's got the charm down, that's for sure."

Addison and Holly watched on, mesmerized by the grace with which Piper made every single movement, even her Pokémon. The crowds cheered and erupted in applause as they realized their Queen had arrived. They followed after her as if they were part of her menagerie. The Rapidash stopped and knelt to the ground as best as she could, allowing Piper to descend gracefully and turn towards her adoring fans.

Ryan and Julia followed Addison and Holly up as close to the front as they could get, expecting Piper to give a welcoming speech. As they finally reached both girls, Ryan turned to see a woman running up to Piper's side. Despite being many years older than Piper, she too took her wardrobe seriously and dressed almost as if she too were in the running for the Queen of Arcana Contests. Ryan hadn't seen his Aunt Erin for some time, but he remembered Michael's mother was always a perfectionist, rarely allowing a single hair out of place on either of her two children.

Erin stood beside her star pupil and waved to everyone. "Helloooooooooo Arcana! How are all of you lovely ladies doing?"

The girls and women in the crowd cheered.

"Excellent" Erin continued. "Now, before we begin, I'd like all of you to take a moment to absorb this moment for yourselves. Even at the beginning of all of this, you should be proud for taking this first step towards contending for the title of Queen of Arcana. Even taking this opportunity to come out here and take part in this extravagant event is something to be proud of."

"Yeah!" Addison cheered. Holly echoed her sentiments.

"You are all here because you wish to one day don the crown of the Queen of Arcana. There are over one hundred entrants I see before me and plenty more who are still making their way here from the southern towns of the Region. However, only one fair maiden can win the honor of being our Region's Queen, one who is not only the idol of many girls and women alike, but also rules over our region alongside the Champion. The two govern together to make our Region the finest in the land."

The audience cheered, with Ryan taking note of Addison and Holly's excited roars of happiness.

"There are four segments of the Queen of Arcana Contests" Erin continued. "The first is a Preliminary Round, which is held at Kingston Castle at the Kingston Ball. For those of you who are unaware, the ancestral domain of the Kingston Family is on the other side of the Ruined Tunnel, which is to the east of here. Only those who have completed their application to enter the Pokémon Contests will be allowed inside. Though it is only a Preliminary Round, I must point out that attendance is mandatory for all who wish to one day wear the tiara on Piper's head here."

The girls all cheered and applauded, even Julia couldn't help but voice her support for her cousin.

"Now, for the other three segments, I will defer to the lovely Piper Pines" Erin said, ushering the Queen of Arcana forward.

When Piper stepped up to the podium, the applause lasted for nearly two minutes. When it finally died down, Piper addressed the girls present. "I want to welcome all of you on behalf of the judges of the Queen of Arcana Contests and I want to let you all know that even if you may not win this Contest, the fact that you were brave enough to even attempt it should be recognized."

The audience applauded.

"The remaining three segments of the Contest will be held in Taghwan City, Magenta Grove and Cauldro City. Each Contest will be harder than the last. But if you apply yourselves, give it your all and keep practicing your routines, you will have a fair and equal chance of succeeding me as the Queen of Arcana."

Julia pulls Ryan out of the way when she sees a few reporters hurrying up to Piper's podium to interview her. Wearing the clothing of Titanio TV's News Team, they continued to push girls and women aside to reach the primary platform Arcana's Queen stood on. "Your Grace, Annabelle Tre of the Titanio TV New Team. We'd like to ask you a few questions regarding Tanner Broderick, your couple's partner."

Erin jumped in front of Piper. "Can't you see we're in the middle of our Commencement Ceremony?"

"Lady Erin, we-"

"All questions you have will be answered by my performances in the Contests, Annabelle" Piper answered. "Until then, perhaps you can fill your tabloids with someone else." With that, Piper left the stage in a huff. The girls and women who surrounded the reporters booed them heavily, prompting them to duck their heads and flee from the discontent mob. Julia left Ryan's side to check on her cousin, while Ryan decided to go and speak to his aunt.

"I'd like to wish you all luck on your Preliminary Contest" Erin said, trying to salvage the commencement, "which will be held in exactly five days at Kingston Castle." With that, Erin shuffled off the platform, not knowing her nephew was following her.

As Ryan continued to pursue his aunt to try and talk to her, he skidded to a stop when his Sandshrew wriggled out of his hands and rolled out of his sight. Ryan chased after his Pokémon, finding him rolling towards where Julia and Piper were talking in between two buildings.

"-off with her!" Piper growled.

"How did they find out so soon?" Julia asked.

"I can't believe I trusted that-UGH!"

"C'mon, Piper. You'll-oh."

Ryan hurried over to them. "Sandshrew, come back here!"

Julia picked up the Sandshrew, who eyed her curiously. "Might need a leash for this one, Ryan."

Ryan took the Pokémon back from the Professor. "Thanks, Julia."

"Who's this?" Piper asked, trying her best to calm down from that errant reporter, seemingly thankful for the distraction.

"This is Michael's cousin, Ryan Kingston" Julia introduced her pupil.

"Oh, so another aspiring Pokémon Champion?" Piper asked Ryan.

Ryan nodded, doing his best to hide the red on his face. "Uh-huh. Mike and Julia taught me well."

Piper smiled. "Good to hear."

"Now Piper" Julia said, "you're going to Erin's for some fine tuning, yes?"

Piper nodded. "Just to clear my head from Tanner."

"We're all headed that way, aren't we?" Ryan asked.

"So it would seem" Piper laughed.

"There you are, Piper!" Erin called, hurrying towards the trio. She then turned and saw Julia and Ryan. "Oh, Julia and Ryan! You all made it here? Excellent! I've been expecting you." She looked around. "Tori said you were traveling with your brother and Addison. Where are they?"

"Matthew went off on his own" Ryan told his Aunt. "Addison and Holly Queensbury are actually here. They wanted to see if you could work with them and teach them some things about Contests."

Erin nodded. "Easy enough. First, let's get the rest of our group together and head for the Chateau. Anthony is cooking a wonderful dinner for all of us." She turned to Julia. "How about you and I go and find the girls, Julia?" She then leaned down to talk to her nephew. "Ryan, I'm counting on you to look after Piper. Make sure she gets to our Chateau safely, okay?"

Ryan saluted his Aunt. "You can count on me." Erin and Julia left the alleyway as the Sandshrew in Ryan's hands tried once more to roll around on his own. "Okay, Sandshrew." He took the Pokémon Ball off of his belt and brought the Sandshrew inside.

"A strange little Pokémon, that one" Piper remarked.

"Yeah, but he's kind of growing on me" Ryan told the Queen.

Piper smiled. "You remind me a lot of your cousin, Ryan. You care about all Pokémon, even the ones that are a little strange."

Ryan beamed. "Well, Mike did teach me everything I know."

"Good to hear" Piper answered.

Ryan puffed out his chest. "Don't worry, Piper! I'll get you to Erin and Anthony's Chateau!"

Piper giggled. "You have no idea where it is, do you?"

"Not at all" Ryan remarked, with no shame whatsoever.

"Well" Piper remarked, "I've been to this town more times than I care to count. I can get us there while Julia and Erin find your friends. Just stay close to me, Ryan." She held out her arm to him. The boy nervously took her arm in his and they headed out towards the Chateau.