Ryan woke up with a start in the quiet dawn hours of the morning, a tingling feeling in the lowest part of his heart. He couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong, but something had clearly shifted in his world. Even the morning skies above him looked darker than usual. He looked at the rest of his traveling team. Matthew was sound asleep on the other side the campsite, while Addison and Holly were snoozing inside Addison's tent. The two Kirlias were asleep beside one another, using their telepathy to communicate in their dreams, though with the way Achilles was fidgeting in his sleep only proved to the young trainer that he too could feel the shift in the world.
Only Mark and Ryan were awake, the former's eyes fixed on the dying fire in front of him. When Ryan saw that Mark was still awake, he decided to approach the Elite Four member. "What time is it?"
"Half past six" Mark told the boy. "If you want, you can get a little bit more sleep."
Ryan shook his head. "No, I don't think I can."
"Then you felt it too?" Mark asked him.
"Felt what?" Ryan asked.
"The shift" Mark told the boy. "Something is wrong. Very wrong. The world is falling out of balance." Ryan looked at Mark as the great trainer seemed to be meditating. "There is more darkness in the world now."
"We should warn Mike when we see him" Ryan suggested.
Mark did not immediately answer. Instead, he calmly watched as the last of the embers of their campfire went out. As the skies slowly began to brighten with the start of a new day, Mark remained fixated on the ashes of the fire they had used to keep themselves warm. "Somehow, I don't think this is the same kind of darkness that he can stop. I think Mike might be in trouble."
Ryan looked at him in shock. If Mike's in trouble, why are you acting so calm? "Then, shouldn't we do something?"
Mark shook his head. "Until we know for sure what has happened, there isn't much sense trying to do anything, is there?"
"I guess not" Ryan admitted, "but it's still something I'd like to prevent before it happens."
"We don't know what's going on, Ryan" Mark told the boy.
"But-"
"The last thing we should be doing is rushing headlong into something we don't know" Mark warned the young trainer. "Especially if it would put you and your friends in danger. The best thing for us to do would be to wait and see what unfolds. It may not be what we want, but it's the only thing that we can do about it without causing more trouble for Mike or the others."
Ryan sighed. "I wish I could help him."
"If you want to help him, just do what he asked you to. Focus on your journey, collect the Gym Badges and steer clear of the Syndicate."
"What is The Syndicate?" Ryan asked him. "And how can I know who's a part of it?"
Mark thought for a moment before answering. "I know this is probably the last thing you want to hear, but the only best case for you to steer clear of the Syndicate is to let us do our job. If you see anyone up to any wrongdoing, don't think you have to be the one who get's involved. Call the police, or us. So long as you aren't directly involving yourself in it, the Syndicate isn't likely to bother you."
Ryan frowned. Just don't get involved? But if this Syndicate is as dangerous as Mark and Mike say they are, how can I just ignore it? Then again, they seem to be a little bit out of my league. I'm not strong enough to make a real difference yet. But I will be soon. And then I can help Mike and Mark and all the others. He knew this meant that he needed to steer clear of Lily, Lena and that other woman as best as possible. But once he got strong enough to fight for the things he cares about, like Michael, no one would be able to stop him.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Matthew stretch his body and leap to his feet. "Morning."
"Good morning, Matt" Mark said to the other twin.
"Hey, bro" Ryan called to his brother.
Matthew made his way over to a small reflecting pool nearby, scooped some water into his hands and used it to wipe his face clean. Refreshed and awake, the trainer returned to the others. "So, when are we headed out?"
"As soon as the girls are ready" Mark replied, pointing towards their tent, which was still lifeless.
"The sooner we get to Taghwan" Matthew insisted, "the sooner I get my Gym Badge."
"Daniel's no pushover" Mark warned the eager boy. "Since he's taken over the gym for your Uncle Doug, he hasn't lost a match. They're calling him the new 'Hammer' of the Pokémon League. We used to call Billy that, but Daniel seems to be harder to beat."
"Why is he so tough?" Ryan asked.
"Ice Type Pokémon aren't particularly common around here" Mark explained. "It helps that Daniel has trained with us to make himself tougher. He's essentially a future Elite Four Member in training. But for now, he's making Taghwan City his home."
"Ice?" Matthew asked, confused. "I thought Uncle Doug used Bug Type Pokemon?"
"He did, but once Daniel took over the Gym, it became an Ice Gym. And like I said, no one has been able to beat him. If he weren't already a Gym Leader, he would probably advance really deep into the Finals this year. I think it was two years ago, where he was the last person to make it to the Championship Match that wasn't a member of the Elite Four. Cameron clobbered him, of course, but still it's impressive."
"If I remember what Addy told me" Ryan said thoughtfully, "Ice has a lot of different weaknesses to exploit. Rock, Fighting, Fire and Steel type Pokémon."
"When good Pokémon Trainers know they're preferred type's weaknesses" Mark cautioned, "they usually have ways to counteract them. He may have some Dual Type Pokémon on him, so you can't be too cautious." The Elite Four member rose to his feet to begin his daily stretches. "If I were you two, I'd worry more about him personally than what happens after you defeat him, should you prove able. Since he's trained with us, he has a 'win at all costs' mentality. He isn't one to take lightly."
"How would you suggest someone beats him?" Matthew asked.
"The best way for both of you to defeat Daniel is for both of you to face him at the same time" Mark reasoned. "A double battle."
"Double Battle with Ryan?" Matthew asked, almost sickened at the thought.
"Why not?" Mark asked. "You both could use some work on your battling prowess and considering how hard Daniel is, I think you ought to give it a try."
"I want to get all the Gym Badges on my own" Ryan insisted.
"See?" Matthew grinned. "We work better separate."
"If you guys say so" Mark said, admitting defeat.
"What are you guys doing up so early again?" Holly called as she unzipped the tent and crawled her way out. As she got the rest of herself out of the tent, she saw how dark the skies were and groaned. "Please tell me we're not leaving for a while."
"We don't have a lot of time to sit around" Mark warned her. "We need to be in Taghwan City in time for this afternoon's press conference."
"What's going on?" Ryan asked as he made his way over to a worn and distressed Holly and pulled her to her feet.
"League business" the veteran trainer bluntly told the younger. "Nothing that need concern you guys right now."
Holly looked to the boys. "Would we be able to see my father and brother while we're in Taghwan?"
"I see no reason why not" Ryan told her. "I haven't seen your Dad in a long time or your brother since we first set off."
Holly smiled nervously. "And I kinda promised him I'd bring you there to meet him again."
As Ryan approved of Holly's plan, Matthew snickered behind his back at his brother's obliviousness. "Oh brother."
As the four sat there waiting for Addison to waken, the shadow of a giant cloud loomed above them. They all gazed into the heavens above and saw the cloud was going much faster than the ones above this one. And it appeared to have more form to it as well. As it floated in the skies above them, they thought they could hear a melody playing through the winds. They looked to see if Addison's radio app on her Poké Gear was still playing, but her Poke Gear was beside her in the tent. The music in the air was peaceful and soothing to the mind.
"That song" Holly remarked. "It's beautiful."
"The Song of Altaria" Mark told her.
"Altaria?" Ryan asked.
"It's a Dragon Pokémon" a voice called behind him. Addison crawled out of her and Holly's pop-up tent and observed the Pokémon flying overhead. "They say it's voice can echo the sounds of the heavens and can even bring an end to storms."
"They also say that an Altaria guides wayward hikers through the mountains with it's calls" Mark told the kids. "That's why it's such a popular Pokémon among people. Professor Pines has one." Somehow, Ryan noticed, mentioning Julia's name made the Elite Four member feel a little down. But he quickly shrugged it off. "No matter. Let's pack up. We've got to head for Taghwan very soon."
"Wait" Holly chirped in. "That's a song I know."
"It's cries sound unique to everyone who hears one" Addison told her friend. "It usually sounds a like a song we've heard many times before."
Matthew listened in. But when he heard nothing, he looked up and saw the Altaria flying off, with multiple smaller clouds behind it. "Look, the Pokémon has company with it." The kids all looked back into the skies and saw several smaller clouds following after the largest one.
"Hey, I can see one" Ryan said.
"Me too" Holly called in.
"Well" Addison inferred, "if those clouds are following after an Altaria, then those must be the Pokémon she evolved from?"
"Swablu" Mark told the kids. "Now, come on you guys. Traffic into Taghwan City get's really bad early in the morning and we need to get there before the bridge into the city is packed with cars and people waiting to get in." With that, Mark quickly stamped out the remnants of the fire, called his Pikachu back onto his head and grabbed his things.
Matthew was quick to follow him, grabbing his bag and leaping to the front of the group to hammer Mark with his questions about ways he might be able to beat Daniel in his upcoming Gym Match with him. As Addison closed up her tent and put it back into her bag, Ryan gently woke their two Kirlias. Achilles was quick to waken and leaped in front of Galatea so she could get some sleep. When he was certain she was in no danger, he looked up at his trainer and waved.
"Ready for another day, Achilles?"
When his Kirlia nodded, Ryan tossed his Poké Ball his way and he vanished inside. Galatea woke up gracefully and leaped as a ballerina towards Addison. She too was eager for a new day of their journey to begin and Addison recalled her, much to the Eevee perched on her head's delight.
"I think your Eevee is jealous of Galatea" Ryan told his friend.
Addison took Ariel off her head and smiled at her. "Aw, do you think I'd let her replace you, Ariel?" The Eevee got the message that she was still the favorite and continued to sit atop her trainer's head as the five trainers packed up the rest of their belongings and hit the road for Taghwan City, still a bit of a ways away from them.
{Meanwhile}
From inside her hotel room in Titanio City, Julia patiently awaited the time for her to head to the Titanio Airport so that she would be able to fly to Johto to attend her extended conference in Goldenrod City. She did everything in her power to distract her from what had unfolded between her and Michael the day before, from watching TV to tending to her Sylveon, but nothing seemed to be working. The only thing she could see was the look on Michael's face when she left him standing there as the rains began to fall.
I hope he doesn't think that was an easy decision for me to make, Julia thought to herself. This has been building up, all this time. All I wanted was for the boy I fell in love with to come back. Is that so much to ask? But the man who she had walked away from the night prior was not the same as the person she had been enamored with since they were kids. When they had been best friends exploring all of Arcana together. When all that they had to worry about was seeing the Pokémon Gyms and seeing how far Michael could get in his challenge of the Pokémon League. Before it all fell apart. Before Giselle, before Cassius and the Syndicate. Before my Michael carried all of the world's burdens on his shoulders. Before he thought he had to go off and become a hero.
Her Pokémon Gear rang for what had to have been the thirtieth time since she departed from the Research Facility. She couldn't bring herself to answer any, so she simply sent out a mass text to people she wished to speak to that she was on her plane and turning off her phone to not set off any interference. But the number of calls she had gotten since then had only amplified. And she knew the reason why they were calling. But why would she want to argue with someone else who was going to tell her she was wrong.
Fed up with the amount of calls she had gotten since only 6:00 in the morning, she finally picked up her Pokémon Gear and answered. "What is it, Piper? I'm very busy."
"I may not understand all of the Pokémon Professing you do" Piper snapped, "but one would think you should be smart enough to realize that if someone is calling to check in on you, you would at least give them a courtesy message telling them to 'step off' or something."
"I've been going through a lot, Piper" Julia replied. "I can't just answer whenever you want me to."
"Then while I have you here" her cousin said, her patience clearly waning, "where should I start? Should I start with the good old fashioned 'what the heck is wrong with you?' or the classic 'you are making the biggest mistake in your life'?"
Julia rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. "I made this decision and I can't step away from it. Do you think this was an easy thing for me to do? When was the last time you cried yourself to sleep because you didn't know if the man you loved was ever going to come home?"
"Why wouldn't he have come home?" Piper yelled. "Seriously, you're letting delusions cloud your way of thinking. Michael is literally the greatest thing to ever happen to you and you're just walking out on him."
"Why are you so upset?" Julia retorted. "You should be happy? As will all of Arcana. The King and Queen shall be reunited, just like in the fairy tales of old."
"What is your problem?" Piper snarled. "Do you honestly think I would ever try to take Michael away from you? He has always been a big brother for me to look up to. And you're not a particularly bright Professor if you think I would just turn my back on you, Julia. The two of you were literally made for each other, but you're pushing him away again at the worst possible time. Just like you did when Giselle showed up."
"Everyone in the media is-"
"AND EVERYONE IN THE MEDIA IS WRONG!" Piper yelled, so sharply that even Julia's Sylveon was startled. "Besides, even if by some witch's magic that I did want to take Michael away from you, he would never go for it. The man absolutely adores every single thing about you. And you just threw him right into the trash like you did before,!"
"Now hold on a second-" Julia began.
"Do you know that the last person who has even seen him was Amanda?" Piper continued. "He's gone, Jules! Like, completely vanished! He won't answer calls, he turned off tracking on his Poké Gear. He wouldn't even tell Cameron where he was when he spoke with her."
"He'll show up" Julia said. "He's just not taking this well."
"Are you even real right now? You were the man's entire universe! And you just had to go screw things up again! What if he doesn't turn up? How would you feel then, Julia? Even Abuela is worried about him."
Julia's face darkened. "You called Abuela?"
"OF COURSE I CALLED HER! Why wouldn't I? Did you forget that he is the reason Abuela is still alive?"
Julia slammed her hand on her bed. "Is there anything else you want to blame me for?"
"Give me a minute to think" Piper replied childishly.
"Ending things with Michael has literally broken my heart" Julia cried out, "and all you are doing is sitting there and telling me how this is all my fault!"
"Maybe because it is? And to think Michael was-you know what? Never mind. Enjoy your conference." With that, Piper cut off the line.
Julia grabbed the pillow off of her bed and screamed into it. But the screaming soon subsided to tears. Tears of what she had lost, what she would lose and what she had given up. She walked her way over towards the window of her hotel room to look outside onto the waking streets of Titanio City and she decided to say a quick prayer for Michael's wellbeing.
Please just let him be safe.
{Meanwhile}
The morning sun was rising in front of the group as they continued their way to Taghwan City. Mark and Matthew led the way, discussing famous battles and events in the former Kanto Champion's life, including the famous Battle of Titanio City, where Michael had fought and defeated Giselle to become the new Champion of Arcana. Holly was in the middle, wistfully daydreaming about her future with a certain contender to be the next Champion of Arcana that she was traveling with. She had mentioned it to her mother that she had developed a crush on Ryan, but rather than be reprimanded for it, her mother was almost euphoric. A Queensbury and a Kingston had never matched together before, at least not in known history. If Holly was to begin a relationship with not only a potential Pokémon League Champion and a Kingston, but also one who was essentially groomed by Michael, it would launch the Queensburys potentially into the same conversation as the Kingstons. All that Holly needed before fully trying to go after Ryan romantically was her father's approval, which she hoped to get when she brought him before the wealthy business tycoon.
Addison and Ryan, despite Holly's plans, were the ones finding out they had true chemistry between them as they made their way along the road. They had always been the closest in their friendship quartet, but since the two had started out on their journey from Parlor Town, their friendship only seemed to be growing stronger. Whether it was Addison helping to care for Ryan's newborn Sandshrew or Ryan's helping to craft Addison's dance routine, it only deepened the bond the two already had for each other. Even the playful teasing they threw each other's way was nothing more than just ways to add levity to their otherwise more grownup lives.
"I think you should listen to Mark" Addison told Ryan.
"About what?" he asked.
"About Daniel" she replied. "I think you and Matthew would be able to beat him if you worked together."
Ryan recoiled at the idea. "We're soon going to be up against each other" he told her. "I don't want to show off how I win battles and I don't think he does either."
She laughed to herself. "Why do I even bother? You two are impossible."
"Come on, Addy" Ryan laughed. "This isn't like teaming up with you. You're not interested in becoming a Pokémon League Champion like he is. I don't want to know how he battles, or else it would end up ruining the fun for me. It'd be like you and Holly choreographing a dance together."
"Holly's helped me out" Addison reminded him. "Don't forget that she took me for that spa day in Alchemiburg. And she also helped me with your Aunt Erin on learning how to be graceful while I move, but you were out cold then."
"Sorry for saving your life then" Ryan laughed.
She punched him in the arm. "You know that's not what I meant." The two soon realized they were lagging behind the others and made to catch up with them, but before they did, Addison came to a stop in a glade of wildflowers. "Oh, I've always loved wildflowers." She ran towards the flowers to inhale their aromas, prompting several Combees to fly away, startled by her. As she inhaled, she heard a cheerful tweeting above her. A Swablu flew down from the skies above and whistled a tune at her. Terrified of the newcomer, Ariel leaped off of her trainer's head and landed in Ryan's arms, burrowing her head inside his arm.
"Well, hello there" she smiled at the new arrival. When the Flying Pokémon whistled to her again, she echoed his tune with a whistle of her own. Realizing she too could sing, the Swablu perched herself where Ariel had been. Addison laughed. "I think I have an admirer."
"I'll say" Ryan remarked, cradling Ariel in his arms. "Though I don't think Ariel likes her very much."
Addison sighed. "Poor thing. Don't worry, Ariel." She pulled a paper bag out of her knapsack and pulled out a Poffin she had made in Alchemiburg. She held the small biscuit up to the Swablu. "Would you like one?"
The Swablu sniffed it and pecked at it happily once she realized it was food. After finishing, the Swablu whistled into the skies above them. Another fell from the skies and landed on Addison's shoulder, whistling happily to her. Once more, Addison echoed this one's song and handed it a Poffin. He too, whistled to the others. Soon, Addison was being serenaded by a choir of Cotton Bird Pokémon.
"I've seen way too many Fairy Tales that have this in them" Ryan laughed. Ariel, looking back angrily at her Trainer's bonding with the intruders, hopped onto Ryan's vacant head and barked at Addison.
Addison smiled at her bitterly jealous Eevee. "Okay, I get it." She prepared to clear a path through all of the Swablu. "Come on, now. I've got to go, everyone."
"Yeah" Ryan added. "We'd better not make Mark late for that conference." He turned his back towards Addison and continued down the road. Ariel began to bat her tail in Ryan's eyes. "Oh come on, Ariel. Don't be jealous. Addison can't focus her attention on you exclusively."
"Ryan?" Addison called to him softly.
"And besides" he said, taking the Eevee off of his head and holding it in his hands, "I keep your brother in his Poké Ball and he loves it in there." The Eevee looked past him at Addison, her jealousy now turning into worry.
"What is it?" Ryan asked.
"Ryan?" Addison called to him, this time more loudly.
Ryan looked back towards Addison and gasped. The Swablu were carrying Addison in the air with them. Unable to move her arms or head due to their grip on her clothing and hair, Addison could only look down at Ryan in panic as she ascended higher and higher towards the skies.
"Addy!" he cried out.
"What the heck?" Matthew asked as he raced back to Ryan's side.
"Addy?" Holly called as she too made her way over to the scene. "This isn't the time to play with Swablu."
"I couldn't agree more" Addison cried, doing her best not to panic as the Swablu continued to carry her higher.
"Flareon and I will put a stop to it" Matthew proclaimed. "Everyone stand-"
"HOLD IT!" Mark shouted, coming to the boy's side almost at the speed of light. He skidded to a stop just behind Matthew. "You can't just blast those Swablu out of the skies!"
"Why not?" Matthew demanded. "Addy's in danger!"
"Your attack might hit her" Ryan warned his brother.
Mark paused. "I didn't even think of that."
"What were you thinking of?" Holly asked.
Mark pointed into the skies above them. The Altaria had returned and loomed in the skies nearby. "Nothing is more dangerous than an angry mother Altaria!"
"Then what can we do?" Matthew asked.
"Hold on" Mark told him, calling out his Charizard. The orange flying lizard roared as he was able to stretch his wings again.
"So your Fire Pokémon can work" Matthew retorted.
"What's wrong with you?" Ryan hissed before turning his attention back towards the Elite Four veteran. "What's your plan, Mark?"
"I'm going to fly up there and get her down" he said, climbing atop the back of his Pokémon. But no sooner had he climbed atop the Charizard, then the Altaria swooped down and spat out a Dragon Pulse at the potential attacker as a warning. Matthew leaped out of the way, while Holly, realizing Ryan was too distracted with concern for Addison to see the attack, dove to the ground with him to dodge the attack.
"I guess that plan's out of the question" Holly said, helping Ryan back to his feet.
"Not that I want to concern anyone" Addison called to her friends from high above, "but if you could please help at any time, that'd be swell." The Swablu continued to fly up towards their mother with their newest perch and she didn't appear to be perturbed by the idea that her children essentially abducting someone.
"If we don't get Addy down soon" Mark worried, "she's going to become a perch for the rest of her life."
Ryan and the others desperately tried to think of an idea. "If only I had that Pokédex that Addy has."
Matthew's eyes widened. "Ryan, you magnificent genius!"
Realizing what his brother meant, Ryan thumbed through his app to try and learn any and all extra information on Swablu and Altaria about calming them down or soothing them. When he finally found what he had been searching for, he read the article. "A swarm of Swablu and Altaria can be soothed from attack if the sun shines brightly enough above them." Looking towards the skies, he saw little but high white clouds. "Well, that's out."
"Maybe it's not" Mark said, looking towards his Charizard. "Charizard, use Sunny Day!" The Charizard let out a bark and soon, the sun shined brightly through the clouds, it's beams hitting the Swablu and their mother. In unison with the sunlight, the Cotton Birds began to sing in the air. "It's working. Ryan, get ready to catch her." Ryan made his way to try and get under Addison.
The Swablu carrying Addison soon began to lower her as one by one, they let go and started to follow the voice of their mother. Addison closed her eyes tightly and tensed up as she realized she would start falling at a much faster pace than she went up.
"Keep your eyes closed, Addy" Ryan coached her. "I'm gonna catch you."
"But Ryan-" Addison cried out.
"Trust me, Addison" Ryan assured her.
"Okay" Addison said, loosening herself. Another Swablu flew off, leaving only two remaining by Addison. Unable to carry her anymore, the Swablu on her arm flew off, prompting Addy to fall from the skies, only a few feet off the ground. Ryan was beneath her immediately and caught her in his arms. The final Swablu whistled to Addison happily, though Addison seemed much happier being close to the ground. "Thanks Ryan."
"No problem" Ryan said.
"Uh, Ryan?"
"Yeah?"
"You can put me down now" she told him,
Realizing he still had her in his arms, he put her down on her legs, looking away as his face flushed. "Let's not go off on any flying lessons again for a little bit, right?"
"Couldn't agree more" she said. She looked onto her head and saw that the Swablu had no intention of leaving, much to the dismay of Ariel. She took her Starter Pokémon with her into her arms. "Oh would you stop being so fussy. You aren't going to be replaced. Once this Swablu is done resting on my head, she's going to either be sent off flying or into a Pokemon Ball as a part of our team. And then you can go back to sitting on my head. Okay?" This answer seemed to please her Eevee, who loved the coddling she got from her trainer.
"Now, if we don't have any further interruptions" Mark said, "we can get back on our way to Taghwan." As the group now walked in front of Mark, Matthew led the way, followed by Holly and Addison. But before Ryan could join them, Mark caught his arm.
"What's up?" Ryan asked.
"Ryan" Mark remarked, a wry smile on his face, "you really should tell her how you feel."
Blushing furiously, Ryan turned away. "We are just friends. Best friends at that."
"Uh huh" Mark said, dismissive. "Listen to me, kid. You have more in common than you think with Michael. You both are capable and strong trainers who care a lot for other people. You both also wear your emotions on your sleeves. Count yourself lucky she hasn't caught on yet without you telling her. And the only time I've ever seen a boy look like that at a girl was a kid I met in Kanto when he was reunited with his own best friend in Orre."
Ryan shook his head. "Addy is my best friend and that's how we both want it to stay."
"Her maybe" Mark grinned, "but what about you?"
Knowing his face would only out him more, Ryan turned away and stormed off in a huff.