The sun was beginning it's descent when Ryan, Addison and Holly made their way out of the Flower Sanctuary and back out onto the road to Taghwan City. Ryan's Jolteon, still fatigued from it's battle with Nadine's Luxray, was still in his trainer's arms, unable to walk on his own. As they began to set up camp for the evening, Addison gave Ryan one of the leftover Soda Pops she had bought in the Terra Town Café and Ryan fed it to his weakened Pokémon, replenishing some of it's strength. Holly, now the owner of a Budew, was doing everything she could do bond with her new Pokémon, but a feeling of guilt over nearly getting both her and Ryan kidnapped was eating away at her. While Ryan continued to pet his tired Pokémon" a bit before putting him away into his Pokémon Ball, Holly looked to her friends sheepishly.

"I'm sorry I caused all of this" she said, the Budew by her side.

"How were we supposed to know there'd be bad guys in the Flower Sanctuary" Ryan insisted. "It wasn't your fault."

"I still feel responsible" she told him. "And if it hadn't been for Michael-"

"Holly" Addison assured her. "No one's blaming you for this."

"I don't know what I would have done if I was the one who was responsible for you getting kidnapped, Ryan" Holly told him.

"Well" Ryan shrugged, "like Mike said. We'll just steer clear from people like her again."

Holly sighed. "I guess, but still."

"C'mon, Holly" Ryan said to her. "Buck up. We all make mistakes."

"Not all mistakes might put your friends in danger" Holly said. "You may say that it's okay now, but would you if we were both that lady's prisoners? It's almost too horrifying to tell."

Addison put her hand on Holly's shoulder. "We're friends, Holly. If one of us messes up, we all messed up."

"Thanks, Addy" she thanked her friend. She then turned to Ryan. "Listen, Ryan. Back in the Forest-"

Ryan's Poké Gear began to buzz in his pocket. "Hold that thought, Holly. Someone's calling." After letting his Jolteon run around more to recover, he looked at who was calling. "Hey, it's my Mom." He answered the call happily to talk to her. "Mom?"

"RYAN JAMES KINGSTON!" his mother shouted at him on the phone. "Do you know how much trouble you're in, young man?"

Both Addison and Holly, who were perfectly able to hear Alison's screaming at her son, shrunk away and did their best not to listen in.

"Mom?" Ryan asked nervously.

"How many more dangerous situations have you been in besides today?" she snapped at her son.

"What do you mean, Mom?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Ryan" Alison said. "I was going to keep quiet when your brother told me about what happened to you in the Ruined Tunnel with those two thugs, but when your father found out today about your run in with a Syndicate Agent from Michael, he was absolutely livid."

"Mom, I'm sorry" Ryan said sadly. "I didn't want you to worry."

"I'm your mother" Alison insisted. "I'm supposed to worry, it's my job!"

"I'm really sorry, Mom" Ryan spoke.

"Your father wants to bring you home" Alison told her son.

"Wait, why?" Ryan said, surprised.

"Because Arcana isn't safe right now" Alison explained. "Maybe if you were older, I'd be more inclined to let you go out on your journey, but I have to agree with your father."

"No, Mom!" Ryan pleaded. "I've already got three badges! I can't just go home now!"

"You should count yourself lucky that Michael already spoke for you" Alison told him. "If Michael hadn't told us Mark was with you, your father would be there to bring you and your brother home right now. The next time something happens to you, I want to know about it, immediately. Do I make myself clear."

"Yes, Mom" Ryan said respectfully.

"Where are you kids, now?" Alison asked her son.

"We're just outside of the Flower Sanctuary" he told his mother.

"And you and the girls are okay?"

"Yes, Mom."

"Good. Look after each other and take care, Ryan. I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you too, Mama. Good night."

"Good night." With that, the call ended.

Ryan took a deep breath. That was too close. I don't know what Mom was worried about. Sure, we may have been in trouble, but we're fine. And so long as Mike's around, we'll be fine for a long time. He is the best, after all.

"Is everything okay, Ryan?" Addison asked him.

Ryan nodded. "Yup, though apparently Matt told my Mom about Lily and Lena."

"Why wouldn't he?" Addison asked. "Ryan, they've been attacking us on a few occasions."

"Come on, Addy" Ryan said. "We're all still okay, right?"

"We're not invincible, Ryan" she reminded him. "And I would want to know if you were in trouble."

"I would too, Ryan" Holly said. "Heck, if it weren't for Addy, we might still be with that nasty woman."

Ryan sighed. "Maybe you're right."

Addison, sensing the mood was down, clapped her fingers. "Enough of this. How about we whip up some curry for dinner tonight?" She pulled out her Pot, which prompted an excited yelp from her Eevee. "You want to help, Ariel? Okay. Let's see what kinds of berries and things we have to put in."

"You don't follow a recipe book?" Holly asked.

"My Dad said sometimes those recipe books can't be relied on" Addison explained. "Especially when you're out in nature like we are. He told me there was this huge area in Galar where you can set up camps and live among the wild Pokémon. But to be able to live like that, you have to be able to live off the land with whatever you have on you or whatever you can find.

"If you don't know what you're cooking, then how do you know if it will turn out good?"

"That's the adventure" Ryan said cheerfully.

"I'm not sure if that's an adventure" Holly suggested.

"Well put it this way" Ryan laughed. "With every meal, we won't know if Addy is a master chef, or trying to murder us."

"HEY!" she shouted at him. After a moment of silence, the three broke out into laughter and agreed to each put a little something they wanted into their special curry.

{Meanwhile}

Sitting on top of the Fun House Building in Titanio Park, as the nighttime skies fell over her, Cameron was alone with her thoughts. In the last three days, the life she had gotten so used to knowing and being a part of had completely fallen apart. She was once set to succeed her cousin Michael as Champion once this year started. It was all supposed to be so simple. Why did things have to change so quickly?

But barely two weeks since they had reached their greatest heights and captured Cassius Sinclair, everything was coming apart. Her cousin was either spiraling out of control or was perhaps right about the Syndicate resurfacing and she didn't know how she could handle it again. She remembered all too well how horrifying Giselle and her secret police had been when she was a little girl. How they had bullied and terrorized men, women and children without remorse or regret. She also remembered how it took all of the bravery and courage of Michael to return and confront the woman who had kidnapped and tortured him. She had always thought that when Michael defeated Giselle and sent the rest of her cohorts into hiding, that the nightmare would be over. But what would happen if Michael was right? What if the Syndicate was returning? Was she capable of running Arcana if the man who murdered her grandfather and terrorized her family did indeed return? Could she possibly have the inner strength inside of her to become a leader with her cousin becoming more and more lost to the Crimson Fury. These were answers she never thought she would have to answer, yet these questions were approaching her as fast as a comet.

She saw the shadow of the flying over her head before she knew who it was that was coming to her. She was hoping it would be Mark or someone else, but when the Charizard growled angrily as he landed, she knew she was about to get into yet another argument with her brother.

"I figured I'd find you here" Chris said, already angry with her.

"Unlike you, I don't flutter about after something I want" she replied.

Chris folded his arms. "The difference between you and me is that I wouldn't turn my back on people I love."

Cameron rolled her eyes. "Being someone in our position means we have to make tough decisions. And I made the toughest decision of my life when I agreed to that plea deal."

"Michael was counting on you to do what was right" Chris snapped. "And now, thanks to all our screw ups, they just voted him out as Champion."

Cameron's eyes widened. "What? They can't do that!"

Chris scoffed at his sister. "Surprising. I'd have thought you'd be the first person to leap in the air for joy. After all, the Champion's seat will be vacant in only a few days."

"Shut up, Chris" Cameron hissed. "This is bad. Very, very bad."

"Why is that, Cam? You're starting to feel some remorse for what you've done to Mike?"

"No" Cameron said, turning away from her brother. "It's because I'm afraid."

This caught Chris off guard. "Afraid? You?"

"It's been a fear I've had since the Pokémon League reopened" she told her brother. "That even though we had Cassius in custody, that the Syndicate was still growing in power. Walter O'Hara and Claude certainly didn't make things easy for me. I always thought that so long as Michael is here, the Syndicate could be held in check. But if he goes off and leaves Arcana, this time for good, there isn't anyone in Arcana anymore that the Syndicate is afraid of."

Chris paused. "You think it'll be like it was back when we were younger?"

"We lost our Mom because of the Syndicate" Cameron reminded her brother. "When Mom died, it made me realize the scariest thing about the world. It doesn't last forever. I was too young to remember much of Grandpa, but I know how much he meant to you guys. Dad used to tell me stories of how there were no gangs or violence when Grandpa was in charge. That was because Grandpa wasn't afraid of anything. He put anyone who needed to be put down right in their place."

Chris nodded. "Grandpa was a good guy. And he loved the heck out of us."

"When Grandpa died and Mom died" Cameron recalled, "I got that cold slap of reality on my face. We're not immortal. And that fear would haunt me for another three years. Then, Michael came back. I watched my older cousin face his fears and doubts and he stormed through all of Giselle's traps and plans and beat her in battle. He put the Syndicate on notice that there was still someone out there worth fearing. And for these last ten years, Michael was bringing Arcana back." Almost on the verge of tears, she looked out onto the horizon. "But reality is setting back in for me. Michael is only human, just like Grandpa and Mom."

"Then why did you do all these things and undermine him?" Chris asked her.

"Because I can't stand to see the last real hero Arcana has falling apart like he is! Because I'm afraid that if we don't do something soon, we're going to lose Michael forever. And because-because-because I think he's right."

"What do you mean?"

"There's been a lot of events going on that I've been doing my best to forget" she told her brother. "Because there's always some part of me that thinks that the Syndicate is behind it. Just look at the Queensbury Space Program. Michael instantly believed it was the Syndicate. But because I wasn't ready to face that terrifying reality, I told him not to worry about it. Now, there's this whole helicopter crash fiasco. Michael is implicated in it, but I'd bet my connection to Victini that he wasn't anywhere near the helicopter when it crashed on Mt. Heatmor."

Chris frowned. "Well, it's too late to be thinking like that, Cam. Mike's going to be out as the Champion. And I'll bet Mark and Lizzie are going to leave with him when that time comes. So, it will just be down to you and me. We can't think of what could have been or what we think might be. We can only go based off of what we know. And the one thing I do know right now, is that nothing in this world is making me angrier than our family."

Cameron nodded. "I can see why Michael holds such contempt for them. How many people voted him out?"

"6-1" Chris revealed. "Only Uncle Byron stuck by him. Even his own mother ended up voting him out in the end."

Cameron lowered her head. "This is bad."

Chris walked over and stood next to his sister. "There might be a way to get Mike to stay, but it's going to be risky."

"How?"

"We can use our cousins and Greg to outvote the others" Chris told his sister.

Cameron shook her head. "Mike wouldn't get enough support from them."

"Tori and Greg will back him immediately" Chris reminded his sister. "Renee, Megan and Jon will too, especially if Uncle Byron is still the only one in Michael's camp. The rest may need some convincing, but if we can get a firm majority of the Gym Leaders to demand that he stay, he might not leave."

Cameron's fears only deepened. "Unless Mike wants to leave."

Chris's idea soon began to fall apart in his mind. "Mike's basically done at this point. But maybe, with some help from Julia, he might see otherwise."

Cameron sighed. "It may be our only chance. We should make the rounds tomorrow, to all the Gym Leaders we might be able to convince to help keep Mike on as Champion. Daniel, Shannon and Billy are the three that we need to worry about the most. I'll worry about Shannon, you see if you can get Daniel and Billy to break away from their dads."

Chris put his arm around his sister. "Cam, you know you can always count on me if something's bothering you, right?"

She smiled and embraced her brother. "I know I can."

{The Following Morning}

As the sun was rising in the east, Ryan yawned and stretched out his body in the morning mists. Addison and Holly, who were both sharing Addy's tent until they got to Taghwan City and Mr. Queensbury could purchase his daughter one for herself, were both still snoozing. Not wanting to wake them up, Ryan rose to his feet quietly and decided he needed to set off and complete some training for his Pokémon. After all, he couldn't slouch now, not when he would be under much more intense scrutiny from his parents and Michael. He moved as far away as he could without leaving the site and called out his Pokémon to let them wake up and toughen themselves up.

After some rest from his battles the previous day, Sparks was ready and fit to run around and eager to battle more. Ryan's Jolteon was eager to run laps and fill the relatively pleasant skies of the morning with bolts of lightning. Marahute flew high in the skies as if she didn't have a care in the world. Her free flying ways were only met with cautious glances down at Sparks to ensure he wasn't sending any Thundershocks her way. Cinder shivered in the cold morning breeze and sat close to Ryan, yelping up at him whenever the winds whipped at him, Ralts was sitting on Ryan's other side, simply teleporting around and trying to get it's bearings straight on where he and his trainer were going. Lastly was Sandshrew, who simply continued to roll along as if the only move he chose to know was Rollout.

While he let his Pokémon enjoy the fresh air for the moment, Ryan realized that his Sandshrew and Ralts had yet to really be given any nicknames. He whistled to his Sandshrew, who came over to him eagerly. "So, Sandshrew. I just realized you don't have a nickname for me to call you."

The Sandshrew scratched his belly and barked up at his trainer.

"Well, you and I both put in a lot of work for Mike's Dad in Terra Town" Ryan recalled. "And you had your big debut for me in the Gym Battle against Greg." The Sandshrew curled up in front of him and began to scratch at his leg. "How about I call you...Terra?" The Sandshrew nodded happily at the acknowledgement of his new name. "Okay then, Terra. We need to get some work in." But before Ryan could plan out some more training with his hatched Pokémon, the Sandshrew rolled away to play with Sparks.

"Easy come, easy go" Ryan said to himself. He then looked down towards his Ralts, who seemed deep in thought. He's so stoic. I should name him after one of those heroes from that Galaxy Wars movie we saw. But at the same time, I don't know what kind of Pokémon he's going to end up being. Ralts was capable of evolving into two separate Pokémon, each of whom would have a colossal impact on his team. If he evolved normally, he would become a powerful Gardevoir, with Psychic powers that could rival an Alakazam or a Gothitelle. If he evolved it with the Dawn Stone that Piper had given him for his actions against Anthony's Banette, he would become the mighty attacker in Gallade. I guess we should decide what I'm going to evolve Ralts into before I choose to evolve it. The Ralts looked up at his trainer and cooed softly. Ryan put his finger onto the Pokémon's feeler and the Ralts happily cheered.

"HEY!" a voice called out to Ryan. He looked into the distance and saw Matthew speeding his way towards his brother. Matthew skidded to a stop when he saw all of Ryan's Pokémon out playing in the meadow. "Good thing I decided to head out when I did. Otherwise, I might have missed you guys."

"We're gonna stick around and wait for Mark of the Elite Four before we head out to Taghwan City" Ryan told his brother.

"Lemme see that Tectonic Badge you got!" Matthew insisted. Ryan opened his wallet and unveiled the three badges he had won. "Impressive. I've got four, after I beat Aunt Erin the other day. Now, I'm on my way to Taghwan for the fifth."

"Hey, we might actually be able to see each other battle" Ryan remarked happily.

Matthew looked at his brother's Pokémon. "You know, there is a better way of testing out our Pokémon's true merit."

Ryan grinned. "I was afraid you weren't going to ask."

"It's time for me and my team to avenge that early loss we had back in Parlor Town!" Matthew said. "Ryan, let me see what your team can do!" The two twins made their way for the main road and stood up, facing each other.

"Let's do this, Hitmonchan!" Matthew exclaimed, calling out his evolved Tyrogue. The Fighting Type Pokémon was the prototypical boxer now, with huge fists and an intimidating look on his face. The Hitmonchan threw two punches into the air to psych itself up for the battle.

"You got this, Marahute?" Ryan called to his Pidgeotto. She flew with grace down towards the battlefield and glared at the Hitmonchan. The two Pokémon had clearly renewed their rivalry.

"Oh brother" a voice called from behind Ryan. Addison drowsily made her way over to the battlefield. "Can't you two be quiet battlers? Some of us are trying to sleep, here?"

"Hey Addy" Matthew called, puffing out his chest for her. "Now, you can see all that hard work I've been putting in."

"I believe you, Matt" she replied, yawning loudly. "I just wish I could have slept a bit longer."

"Well, Ryan" Matt grinned towards his brother. "I guess I've got a fan to impress."

Ryan looked from Matt to Addison and glared at his brother. "Well then, if she is your fan, we'll just have to send her home sad. Right, Marahute?" The Pidgeotto rose into the air and cawed at the opponent.

Addison, too tired to see that the boys were fighting for her approval now, simply sat on a nearby boulder and watched.

"Go, Hitmonchan!" Matthew commanded. "Use Thunder Punch!" The Hitmonchan charged forward, his fists brimming with the power of Electricity.

"Marahute, use Wing Attack!" Ryan countered. The two Pokémon charged at each other, Marahute's powerful wings against the Hitmonchan's powerful fists. In a clash of ferocity, determination and power, Marahute's wings proved to be too much for the Hitmonchan, who was flung backwards.

"What?" Matthew remarked, surprised.

"Go, Marahute!" Ryan called, "Use Sky Drop!" The Pidgeotto buried her talons into the Fighting Type Pokémon and raised it high into the air, before slamming it down into the ground. When the dust cleared, the Hitmonchan was KO'd.

"That's how it's done!" Ryan insisted.

"Not bad" Matthew told his brother. "But you're gonna need more than some lucky wing strikes to deal with my Onix!" He called out his enormous Rock Snake, who roared at the heavens when it first came out.

"What's going on here?" a voice called out. Holly too, now joined the commotion and saw that Ryan and Matthew were battling each other. She slapped herself awake to see her crush in action. "A Battle between Ryan and Matthew? This I've got to see!" She sat beside Addison, gently nudging her towards Matthew's side.

"What's that for?" she asked, still trying to wake up to enjoy the fight.

"I'm going to root for Ryan" Holly insisted. "Since you're rooting for Matt, that will mean each of them has a cheerleader."

Addison was shocked at Holly's insistence. "Okay, first of all-"

"Onix" Matthew called, "Use Rock Throw!" The Onix began launching huge boulders into the skies where Marahute flew. The Flying Pokémon easily dodged the rocks in an attempt to reach the inner defenses, but this proved to be a costly error. "Now, use Slam!" The Onix fell on top of Marahute, crushing her beneath his weight and winning Matthew the round.

Ryan smiled towards his brother competitively. "Well well. You haven't been slouching."

"Was that a compliment, or are you ready to shine my shoes?" Matthew remarked boastfully.

"We'll see who's the shoe shiner among us!" Ryan insisted. "Go, Terra!" Ryan's Sandshrew rolled out onto the battlefield, growling at the Onix.

"Well" Matthew said, "I'm surprised the little guy has it in him to fight."

"Terra!" Ryan called to his Pokémon, "Use Metal Claw!" The Sandshrew lunged at the Onix with it's sharpened claws and slashed right into the Rock Snake. Onix fell backwards, but rolled back to his feet and growled menacingly at the Sandshrew.

"Onix!" Matthew called, "Use Bind!" The Onix wrapped itself around the Sandshrew, preventing him from using his claws in another attack. Then, the Rock Pokémon squeezed tightly, causing the Sandshrew an immense amount of pain.

"Terra!" Ryan cried out to his Sandshrew. "USE EARTHQUAKE!" Hearing his trainer's orders, the Sandshrew unleashed a mighty tremor in the earth that caused the ground to shake so much, that not only were Addison and Holly flung unceremoniously into the wet morning grass, but the Onix was forced to free the Sandshrew and was struck hard by another Metal Claw, knocking out the Onix. Matthew recalled his Pokémon.

"WAY TO GO, RY!" Holly cheered loudly. Addison was decidedly torn on which brother to root for, as Matthew was thinking she would root for him, but she still kind of preferred it if Ryan were to win.

"Go, Croconaw!" Matthew called. His Poké Ball soon released a Blue and Yellow colored reptilian Pokémon, who growled confidently.

"Uh oh" Ryan said. "A Water Type? I think Terra is in trouble." He shook off his woes and told his Pokémon to have at it anyway. "Terra! Use another Earthquake!"

Terra shook the earth with another violent quake, but while he was tossed a bit, the aquatic Pokémon seemed quite unfazed.

"Croconaw" Matthew called, "Use Water Pulse!" The Croconaw spat a huge pulse of water directly at Terra, knocking him out instantaneously. Ryan recalled his Sandshrew.

"Bit of a setback, Ryan!" Holly encouraged him. "But you're still in this!"

"Seems like someone's got an admirer" Matthew remarked.

Ryan nodded to himself. "Let's go, Sparks!" The Jolteon gladly leaped in front of his trainer. "Use Thundershock!" The Jolteon spat the Electrical Energy at the Croconaw, who took the blows directly to it's head and passed out in a few moments to a KO.

"One last Pokémon for me" Matthew said. "But he just happens to be my best! Go, Flareon!" The Poké Ball containing Sparks aggressive brother revealed the pampered yet deadly Fire Type Eeveelution. Sparks and Flareon also seemed to renew their own rivalries from their days in the same litter. "Flareon, Use Flare Blitz!" The Flareon rammed itself into Sparks with a ruthlessly strong fiery attack, knocking him out without breaking a sweat.

"Come on, Ryan!" Holly called to him. "I believe in you!"

Addison held her hands together as she watched Ryan contemplate his last move. Come on, Ryan. You can do it...

Ryan grinned. "Time to call out my secret weapon. Ralts! You're up."

Matthew laughed as he saw the small and frail little Psychic Type make his way onto the battlefield. "That little thing is your secret weapon? I thought that was a mushroom."

"Don't underestimate my Ralts" Ryan warned his brother. "Not when this thing took out a Flygon."

"Flareon" Matthew called to his Pokémon, "Use Flame Burst!" The Flareon spat out a powerful fire attack, but the Ralts simply used Teleport to vanish and reappear on another side of the arena. The Flareon tried another Flare Blitz, but the Ralts again warped out of the way. Getting frustrated, the Flareon decided to try both. It faked a move towards using a Flare Blitz, but then turned around, saw where the Ralts was teleporting, and shot a Flame Burst at it.

"Gotcha!" Matthew exclaimed.

The Ralts raised it's tiny arms to try and block the attack and was holding it away from hitting him with his telekinetic powers. The fiery attack continued to try and roast the poor Psychic Pokémon, but the telekinetic force with which it resisted the Flame Burst only kept growing in power. In a flash of blinding light, the Flame Burst was shot back towards the Flareon, who simply rolled out of the way of the blast. When the light faded, Ryan grinned and his brother was petrified.

"What the-"

"Did the Ralts just-" Holly began

"He evolved!"

The Ralts had now become a Kirlia and spun around like a top. When he was finished, he aimed a powerful Psychic Attack at the Flareon and smashed it repeatedly into the ground until the Flareon had fainted.

"Man" Matthew said, pounding the ground in frustration. "I thought I had you there."

"YOU DID IT!" Holly cheered.

"Way to go, Ryan!" Addison added.

Ryan ran over to his Kirlia, who happily let Ryan touch the newly sprouted Feeler on the side of his head to connect them better. "Way to go, buddy! We won another match, you and I."

"You weren't kidding when you said that thing took down a Flygon" Matthew said.

"Hey, you put up a tough fight" Ryan told his twin. "You almost beat me."

Matthew grinned as he recalled his fainted Flareon. "Don't worry. I'll beat you one of these days."

"Well done to the both of you" a voice called from the road nearby. The two turned and saw Mark standing there, having recently landed with his Charizard. "You both put up a remarkable effort."

"Mark" Ryan said in awe. "Mark the Magnificent."

Mark laughed. "I like the sound of that. Mark the Magnificent."

"We're huge fans of yours, Mark" Matthew insisted.

"I can imagine" Mark said. He then paused a moment and looked at both of them. "Ryan and Matt. You both have certainly grown since I last saw you." He then turned over to see Addison and Holly. "And these ladies?"

"That's Holly Queensbury and the other one is Addison Tenton" Matthew told him.

"Interesting" Mark grinned, bowing to both. "I'm Mark of the Elite Four. And I've been asked by Mike to make sure you four make it to Taghwan City safely. Are we ready to go?"