Back at the Pokémon League HQ, Lizzie continues with her task of trying to keep the Social Media of the Elite Four and the Pokémon League under control. But with all the utter chaos that has been unfolding these past few days, she hasn't really been able to get a handle on things. She knew that Michael had nothing to do with the helicopter crash into Mt. Heatmor where Cassius Sinclair and the pilots were more than likely killed. Michael was certainly capable of taking matters into his own hands, but she could not imagine her friend outright murdering anyone without the Crimson Fury's influence.
It had been abysmally quiet since the news of the helicopter crash broke out over Arcana. Chris and Mark had been out to try and do whatever damage control they could do regarding the rumor of Michael's involvement in the crash. Cameron had been keeping her distance from the Pokémon League, affirming to Lizzie that she was possibly in talks with the Kingstons to succeed Michael as Champion if they truly did plan on removing him from power. Michael himself was darting from various corners of Arcana. He was in Terra Town, then Iron Mountain, then the Flower Sanctuary and now was on his way to Kingston Castle for a meeting with his family. So, Lizzie had the HQ all to herself. Despite this, she knew she was likely going to be relied upon by the others to provide some bit of good news regarding their developments and as a result, she chose to keep working and keeping an eye on how the League was trending.
After he training with her Alolan Raticate had come to an end, Lizzie had decided to spend some quality time with another of her personal favorite Pokémon, Jazz the Umbreon. Her Eevee had been one of her first Pokémon when she was growing up with her Grandparents at the Day Care Center in the Hoenn Region. As she had always been fond of Dark Pokémon, including Umbreon, she chose to have her Eevee evolve into it to give her a companion. Now, Jazz sat on the bed, curiously watching as his trainer flashed up as many Social Media feeds as possible to ensure nothing fake or demonizing was being said of them or the Pokémon League. She had already forced a take down of a post by one of Walter O'Hara's most flagrant supporters because of how much fake rhetoric was on it, but she knew that the more things she completely tore down, the worse the League would look in general.
As she worked on the computer, she received a Video Chat request from an unsolicited source. Figuring it was someone trying to pull a prank, she ignored the call and continued with her work. Then, another request appeared from the same source. She again ignored it. When a third request was made, she decided to try and block the number, but because it came from an unsolicited source, they couldn't properly block it. Lizzie rolled her eyes, expecting one of Walter O'Hara's trolls to be bothering her with a prank call. With great reluctance, she answered the chat. "What is it?"
"Is that the way you treat an old friend?" a man asked on the other screen, an strong feeling of arrogance and smarm in his voice.
Lizzie turned toward the screen and gasped. "Hunter?!"
"I know you missed me, Lizzie" the Pokémon Poacher snickered. Hunter was roughly the same age as her, with short green-colored hair and always wearing a camouflage colored suit that allowed him to blend in when he was out hunting Pokémon. His most distinguishing feature was a scar in the shape of a lightning bolt that covered most of his left eye. He had gotten that during his first encounter with Lizzie, Mark and Michael in the Hoenn Region, when he foolishly believed he had the power to control Jirachi and force the Mythical Pokémon to grant his wishes. His black hearted ambitions, however, prompted Jirachi to reject him and seek the protection of Lizzie. When he tried to attack the group to get the his wish granting Pokémon back, he found himself on the receiving end of her Salamence's flamethrower.
"If by missed, you mean that I missed my chance of finishing things off with you years ago, then yes." Lizzie was certainly not interested in seeing the face of the man who had terrorized her family and attempted to abuse Jirachi again.
"When was the last time you and I met in person?" Hunter asked. "Was it before or after you did this to me?" He pointed towards the scar on the side of his face.
"It was in Arcana" she reminded her foe. "You tried to capture Celebi from Michael and were lucky to escape with your life."
"That's the last time I mess with someone who has the Crimson Fury" Hunter laughed. "But it won't matter much longer. Besides, being as we're old friends, I was wondering if you wanted to meet up for some coffee. Reminisce about the good old days. Back when you and Michael both had grandfathers."
Lizzie did her best to maintain her patience. "Sure. You can meet me in a prison cell when you surrender yourself."
"Oh, but that's no fun" the poacher replied. "Wouldn't you want to meet face to face before this all ends?"
This all ends? "What are you talking about?"
"You see" Hunter explained casually, "I've been meeting with some interesting people since I've been in Arcana. And it would seem we all have mutual friends in each other."
"You're a part of the Syndicate, aren't you?"
"You know me so well, Liz" Hunter smirked. "And having looked over some of their plans and seen what they have in store for you, Mike and the rest of you goodie goodies, I think you should just pack up your bags and head home."
"And why is that?"
"Because Michael is going to die" Hunter said bluntly. "And anyone around him. The Syndicate is pretty much writing Michael off as too dangerous for them to control or depend on acting civilly."
"I seriously doubt you and the Syndicate have to potential to to even come near Michael" Lizzie mocked him.
"You already know we have" Hunter cautioned her. "Come on now."
Lizzie thought for a moment and realized Hunter was in fact correct because of one person. "Courtney."
"Bingo" Hunter grinned. "You always were smarter than you looked."
"It won't make a difference" Lizzie proclaimed. "The Syndicate isn't strong enough to fight back anyway. And even if Courtney does somehow manage to put a wedge between Michael and the others, the rest of the Pokémon League will stop you."
"That's where you're wrong, princess" Hunter told her. "Or did you forget what happened the last time the Pokémon League ousted it's best trainer?"
Lizzie lowered her head. "That was different-"
"Was it? The Pokémon League refused to believe Michael when he told them of the real and present danger that Elezar, Cassius and Giselle posed. And when it came down to choosing between their own family and their own power, what did they all pick?"
"Themselves" she muttered. If it hadn't been for them casting Michael out, she would never have met him or Mark.
"And they're gonna make the same mistakes again" Hunter told her. "And thanks to The O'Hara Hour, Michael's own actions and the growing power of the Syndicate, they will soon be ready to sweep Michael aside in one fell swoop. And that's why I wanted to make sure you all survived. After all, ripping Jirachi from your cold dead hands won't mean as much if you're not alive to see me do it."
"You will never have Jirachi or any of the Mythical Pokémon" Lizzie proclaimed. "Not while we live!"
"I guess I have a few days to wait" Hunter retorted. "It would have been better for you if you're Grandfather had just handed over Jirachi when he had the chance. But he, like you, was stubborn and failed to see reason. Don't worry, though. You've been apart from your Grandfather for too long in my eyes. Stick with Michael a little while longer and you'll see your Grandpa again. Ta-ta!"
"WAIT!" Lizzie called, but Hunter ended the call. She tried to trace the number, but the number vanished from her call log instead. She took a deep breath. "I need to talk to Mark." With that, Lizzie closed her laptop, called her Umbreon to her and the two raced out of her bedroom.
{Meanwhile}
Michael stood in front of his uncles, his grandmother and his mother in the middle of the Kingston Castle Ballroom, where he had been summoned to attend. Michael's arms were folded and he refused to look any of them in the face. He knew what they had summoned him here for. And the fact that they had made this decision only boiled his blood more than ever before. He did make a brief inspection of them and saw emotionless faces on all but his mother, who was looking down, whether in shame of him or herself, he didn't know, nor did he care. He had had enough of them all.
His Grandmother led the proceedings. "Michael Kingston, do you know why you've been summoned here today?"
"I doubt it's for any kind of apology" Michael said coldly. "Because after 10 years, I've yet to receive one from any of you."
"You are here" Junior rose, pointing at his nephew, "because you are coming apart at the seams. We can't do our jobs because you keep overstepping your boundaries and making things a living nightmare for us."
"If that's the case" Michael replied bluntly, "why bother even having this meeting? You already turned your backs on me once and I can see it's come across your mind that you'd do it again."
"This isn't an easy choice for us to make, Michael" Doug told him. "You are still family."
"Family you had no problem casting out on his own when he was a boy" Michael said.
Erin was about to run from the table, but Jeice took his sister's arm and looked at her sternly until she remained. He then took his moment to address his nephew. "Michael, we are not your enemies. We are a family and we want what's best for you and the region." He took a deep breath. "However, with that being said, we cannot allow you to run ragged all across Arcana acting without any semblance of self control."
"It seems someone didn't miss Walter O'Hara's broadcast today" Michael responded.
"Michael" Bonnie said softly. "We care about you. We can see what you're enduring. We may not know what it is, but we still know that it's bothering you. We want you to take an indefinite leave of absence. Until this...whatever it is, is in check, we will be assuming direct control of the Pokémon League."
"You want me out of the way" Michael said, getting to the point.
"We want peace, Michael!" Junior replied. "And clearly you can't deliver on that!"
"Is that so?" Michael snarled. "Well tell me then, Uncle. Was I the one who let Giselle run rampant over the rest of Arcana for four years? Was I the one who is trying to stifle efforts to stop the Syndicate's revival? Because I seem to think that person is you."
"How dare you" Junior flared, rising from the table. "I am the Leader of this Family, Michael. And I will have the respect I deserve."
"I'm showing you the respect you deserve, none!"
Junior shook his head. "You truly are a hopeless cause. Perhaps Walter was right about you."
"JAMES?!" Bonnie snapped at her son.
Michael laughed at Junior's retort. "You know, the last time someone kept bringing up Walter in front of me, I blacked out. But I have the strangest feeling that if you keep bringing him up in front of me, Junior, you'll be the one who blacks out!"
Junior was stunned into silence. "Insolent-"
"ENOUGH MICHAEL!" Erin shouted to her son at last. "We are not enemies and we have never been."
"That's where you're mistaken" Michael said. "Because enemies don't turn their backs on one another to save themselves. And that's what literally every single one of you in here did to me. Why should I think that we're on the same side when you clearly want something different than what I want?"
"Because we are family" Robert told his nephew.
"You keep using that word" Michael replied, "but I don't think you know what it means."
"I have to look out for my boys" Robert told him. "And if I think that anything is a danger to them-"
"Danger, huh?" Michael was nearing his total limit with the Kingston Family. "Am I danger to your sons?"
"Well-"
"Because the reason I ignored the first call to come here" Michael continued, "was to save your son's life."
Robert eyed him curiously. "What are you talking about?"
"Ryan was almost abducted by a Syndicate Snatcher" Michael informed the boy's father. "Had it not been for me and his friends, what happened to me fourteen years ago might very well have happened to him." He eyed each and every person present with the utmost contempt. "But unlike you, who preach the morals of family and responsibility without having to lift a finger, I was willing to risk my life to save my cousin because I love him and never want to see anyone go through what I did."
Robert rose from his seat. "I have to call Alison."
"Robert-" his mother began.
"I need to talk to my sons!" Robert snapped, before departing out of the ballroom the same doorway where only a few days earlier, Michael and Piper had entered as dance partners.
"This is an unexpected development" Doug said solemnly.
"No" Michael retorted. "It's not. If you'd stood up to the Syndicate when you had the chance, we might have been able to stop them. Instead, you let them fester and grow underneath you. Twice!"
"We will table the discussion of your-" Bonnie began, but Michael waved off her olive branch.
"Save it" Michael hissed. "I should've never come back in the first place." He reached for his belt and pulled off the belt buckle, which bore the insignia of the Kingston Family. "I'm done fighting for you. I'm done defending. I'm done trying to do the right thing in this nest of rats!" He flung the belt buckle at his Grandmother. With that, he turned to leave.
"So that's it then?" Junior asked him. "You're just going to walk out on us?"
"You can call me whatever you want, Lord Kingston" Michael replied, the ice in every word piercing like a dagger. "Arcana's not my problem anymore. Before the Contests in Taghwan City, I'll be announcing my resignation. You can bet that Mark and Lizzie will be joining me when I leave. I can't speak for Chris and Cameron, but I imagine they won't take the news that you compelled me to resign well."
"Is that a threat?" Jeice asked his nephew.
"It's whatever you make it out to be" Michael responded.
"Michael, please don't do this" Erin pleaded with her son. "You are our family. My son. My-"
"You burned that bridge the minute you cast me out on my own, Lady Kingston" Michael flared back. "The only family I have left is in Parlor Town, waiting for me. And I intend to go back to her and put this wretched, miserable place behind me." He then turned to the people he had once loved and cherished. "Have fun with another Aced running amok here." With that, he walked out the door and slammed it behind him,
{Meanwhile}
"You actually resigned?" Mark asked Michael on their Poké Gear call moments after Michael left Kingston Castle for the very last time. He and Chris had been on a good will run of helping out charities and meeting with sick children in Titanio Hospital, but were flabbergasted when Michael called them to let them know of what had happened.
"It won't be official for a few days" Michael said to them. "But before the Taghwan Pokémon Contests, I'll be setting aside Arcana and the Pokémon League for good."
"What's gonna happen to us? The Team? The Elite Four?" Chris asked.
"It's up to you guys" Michael told them. "I figured you'd want to make preparations to leave for Kanto as soon as possible. And I expect Lizzie to want to go back to Hoenn. But you guys can stay if you want." Michael sighed on the other end of the call. "Chris, it's up to you if you want to stay. I won't hold it against you if you do choose to stay."
"Will you still be in Parlor Town?" Mark asked his friend.
"I have no intention of staying anywhere in Arcana" Michael replied. "Once Julia is ready to move on, we'll both be heading out."
"Mike" Chris said sadly.
"You can't change my mind, Chris" Michael told his cousin. "I told you everything they told me. And I just don't care about them anymore. My heart's been stomped on by them one two many times."
"I-I understand man" Chris said sadly.
"What else is going to happen?" Mark asked Michael.
"I need to talk to both Julia and Piper about this" Michael said after a moment. "That way, all the people in the world that matter to me and need to know this will know."
"Well, we'll keep doing what we need to do here" Mark promised his friend.
"Not quite" Michael told him. "I need you to do me a favor."
"What kind of favor?"
"I need you to watch over Ryan and his friends as they get to Taghwan City" Michael told his friend. "They recently ran into someone from the Syndicate and I don't want them running around unsupervised until I'm out as Champion."
"But Mike" Chris called to his cousin and best friend, "what's going to happen to them afterwards? Or to us?"
"Chris" Michael said sadly, "I love those kids like they were my own. But when I'm no longer the Champion, it will be up to their parents."
"What about the Syndicate?" Mark asked him.
"They won't be around much longer" Michael assured Mark. "I have a plan to deal with them. But I need you to look after Ryan and his friends until the conference in Taghwan Hall."
Mark nodded. "I can do that."
"Thanks" Michael answered. "I'll fill you guys in on things as far as I know them. I've got to break the bad news to a lot of people. Talk to you later." With that, the conversation ended.
Chris shook his head. "This is all Cameron's fault! If she had just stuck to the plan, none of this would have ever happened!" He headed out into the street. "I need to go settle things with her once and for all!"
"But Chris-" Mark called, but Chris took off into the skies on the back of his Charizard.
{Meanwhile}
While she was finishing up her report on the nature of Eevee litters to send to Professor Rowan in Sinnoh to critique, Julia found herself again being dragged from her work for another news story. Fortunately for her, this time Walter O'Hara wasn't the one breaking the story. Amanda shook her head in disgust as the news began to cover the story.
"This is ArcTV News Anchor, Gerry Atrick with this Breaking News development. Though it has not been confirmed or denied by the uppers in the Kingston Family, rumor has it that longtime Champion Michael Kingston has been forced to resign by Lady Bonnie Kingston and a council of six additional Kingston relatives, including Gym Leaders Robert Kingston and his mother Erin Kingston."
"What?" Julia gasped.
"Michael Kingston has been our undisputed Champion since he defeated the tyrannical Giselle Odelia in a Pokémon Battle above the skies of Titanio City ten years ago. A reason why for his resignation has not been given. We will give you full updates as soon as we have learned them."
"Michael's resigned?" Amanda asked. "That just makes no sense."
Julia's head was spiraling again. She had just managed to drive off the reporters who had been hounding her since the news of the helicopter crash in Mt. Heatmor blew up. Now, the Kingstons had effectively removed Michael from the only position in life he had ever wanted as a boy. What was going on? She needed to find out.
"Is there any other business that needs to be discussed today?" she asked her protégé.
"Professor Elm just needs to know if you'll be attending the conference in Goldenrod City" Amanda told her.
Julia gasped. I completely forgot about the conference. This had been a dream of hers to attend since she received her doctorate like her Grandmother had. But with all that had been transpiring, she had completely forgotten it was set to begin as early as next week. She knew she wanted to go, but what if Michael returned home and needed her. But which Michael is going to come home? The one I've known my entire life? Or the one that's been involved in so many dark stories. She gave a short thought to that mysterious message she'd gotten as an email, but she shrugged it off as paranoia.
"Amanda" Julia finally said after a while, "see if you can ring up Professor Elm's office. I'll have an answer for him in a few moments." When Amanda went to dial up Professor Elm in Johto, Julia picked up her Poké Gear and took a deep breath. Please, Michael. Just answer me. She dialed out to him.
"Jules?" Michael asked on the other line.
"Mike" she replied, unsure of what to say.
"Are you okay?" Michael inquired.
"I-I don't know anymore" Julia admitted. "There's so much going on, it's all too confusing to wrap my head around."
"I know what you mean" Michael told her.
"Is what the News reporting true? Are you being forced to step down as Champion?"
Michael sighed on the other line. "Yeah. I was hoping to be the one who broke that to you."
"You seem to be taking it well" Julia remarked, expecting Michael to be angry.
"Why be angry over it?" Michael asked her. "It just means that we don't have to be tethered down here anymore. We can finally go anywhere and do anything we want!"
"What about the family? What about your friends?"
"They don't matter anymore" Michael replied bluntly. "They wouldn't even listen to me about The Syndicate."
Julia clutched at her heart. She could feel it cracking. "Michael, this is what you born to do. This is what you dreamed of doing your entire life."
"I found else I wanted to do the rest of my life" Michael assured her. "I just want to be there with you when-"
"Where are you?" Julia asked.
"I'm filling everyone in on the resignation" Michael told her. "So that maybe tonight, you and I can-"
"I'm going to be in a conference call with Sonia from Galar" she lied. "I just wanted to know that you were okay."
"I'll be better when I come home" Michael assured her.
You should already be home. You shouldn't have gone off on this tour of resignations! I should have been the one you told first! "Just take care of yourself, Michael."
"I'll see you soon, Jules. Love you."
Unable to speak the words, she ended the call. She buried her head into her hands and began to cry. Why does it have to hurt so much? Why does he have to hurt so much? But in her heart, she knew she could not bare this pain any longer. The fear of him sinking deeper into the Crimson Fury, the fear of his work consuming him, the fears of him being involved with Piper. She could not take the pain any longer.
"Amanda?" she called to her protégé.
"Yes, Professor?"
"Tell Professor Elm I will come to that conference."