Lily and Lena frantically ran for their truck with their victim in tow, hoping to lose Matthew and his Pokémon. The Twin Syndicate Snatchers were absolutely petrified of the now more powerful Pokémon Trainer and did their best to avoid his wrath. The sack they were carrying their target in wormed about in their hands as they desperately reached their vehicle.

"How does he keep finding us?" Lily asked.

"No time for questions" Lena told her sister. "Just put the kid in and let's go."

As Lily and Lena flung their hostage into the trunk of their truck, they realized Matthew had caught up with them. "Haven't I told you cretins to stop harassing people?"

"How do you keep finding us?" Lily demanded.

"Does the little Kingston pest have a crush on us?" Lena snickered.

"I'm only going to say this once" Matthew warned. "Release that kid, now!"

Lena cursed their situation under her breath. "This is the last time you interfere with our plans!" She looked past her opponent and saw Holly and Tommy making their way. "Looks like this one has swapped Kingstons."

"She's only here to watch" Matthew informed them.

"Be careful, Matt" Holly warned him. "They may try to trap you the same way they tried me and Ryan."

Matthew scoffed at the idea. "I'm a Master Pokémon Trainer, Holly. Traps don't work on me!"

"We'll see about that, Mr. Pokémon Master" Lily hissed. "Go! Arbok!" The Poisonous Reptile coiled itself into attacking position, but upon recognizing who he would be battling, the cobra nearly slithered off to hide.

Matthew guffawed at their incompetence. "How you two still have jobs is beyond me. Go! Noivern!" From out of Matthew's Poké Ball came his newest Pokémon: a bat-like creature with a wide wing span and hypersonic ears. "Use Hurricane!" The Noivern flapped it's wings viciously, causing a huge galestorm to appear and whip the Arbok as well as its trainer about.

While she was whipped in the air, Lily called over to her sister. "Now would be a good time!"

Holly, realizing what the twins were going to do, desperately called out to her friend. "MATT! LOOK OUT!"

Matthew turned to face Lena, who fired the Net Gun directly at him. But without even reacting, his Noivern spat a fire ball at the net, causing it to burn to ashes before it could snare the boy in the trap. Lena dropped her net gun in shock. Matthew's Dragon Pokémon glared down at her and caused Lena to leap into the truck to ignite the engine.

"Lily!" she shouted to her sister. "Let's scram!"

Lily recalled her dazed Arbok and leaped into the trunk after her sister.

Matthew sighed. "These two are hopeless. GO! Steelix!" His Steelix appeared in front of the truck, once more blocking it's way. Matthew hurried for the trunk and pulled the captive out of the trunk. He then called over to Holly. "Free him." As Holly hurried over to the sack and tried to unknot it, Matthew returned his full attention to Lily and Lena. "Steelix! Use Iron Tail!" In a fit of rage, the Steelix took one ferocious swipe with his tail and leveled Lily and Lena's truck, completely destroying it.

Lily and Lena jumped out of the truck and panicked. "We're sunk now!"

Lena looked past her attacker to see that the locals were now actually taking interest in their actions. She scowled. "Let's regroup with Victor or Nadine. Tell them this one's going to be too much trouble." The twins raced off into the woods, running as fast as they could to avoid the wrath of their newest thorn in the side.

{Meanwhile}

Holly watched as the twin Syndicate Snatchers slinked off into the darkness. She couldn't help but be amazed at how strong Matthew had gotten since she last saw him battle in the Taghwan Gym. He was truly taking his Pokémon battling seriously. He would make a serious case for Pokémon League Champion if he took the time to go and collect more badges.

As Matthew ensured the twins wouldn't come back, she continued to undo the knots on the bag the two had tied to keep their poor prisoner inside. She could hear muffled cries and groans. "Don't worry" she assured the boy. "We'll get you out of here." She looked towards her brother. "Tommy, come on and help me!"

Tommy hurried over with his big sack of candy and put it down beside her as they worked together to untie the knot and free the abducted boy. As the two finally undid the knot, the sack fell off, revealing a boy that looked quite familiar to Holly. He was at Kingston Castle! The boy had short black hair and unlike at the Queen's Ball, was not adorned in a suit but in simple traveling clothes. The boy couldn't move though, as his hands were restrained with duct tape as well as his ankles and one strip over his mouth. Holly quickly worked at cutting the duct tape on the boy's wrists free. When she succeeded, he ripped the piece off of his mouth and exhaled.

"Oh, thank goodness."

"Eric, right?" Holly asked, while Tommy peeled off the pieces of tape off of his ankles.

Finally able to get his bearings straight, the boy studied Holly. "I remember you. You were at Kingston Castle!"

"Holly Queensbury" she reminded him. "I was your first partner."

He exclaimed happily. "I'm free! Thank you!" He grabbed Holly's face and kissed her, causing the girl to blush and pull away.

"Hold on" she said, flustered. "I kind of have a boyfriend."

"No you don-" Tommy began, before his sister smacked him.

"I'm sorry" he apologized, "but those two have been holding me hostage since yesterday. I'm just so relieved to be free from them." He grasped at her hands, completely enamored with his savoir. "How did you do it? That was impeccable work!"

Holly shook her head. "I just got you out of the bag" she informed him, pointing towards Matthew. "He's the one you should be thanking."

Eric pulled Addison to her feet and cheerfully thanked her again, before running over to Matthew. Tommy, who was rubbing where his sister had smacked him on his cheek. "Ow, what did you do that for? You and Ryan aren't-"

"Aren't dating yet!" she cautioned her brother. "And if Addison and Matthew become a couple, it's only going to become inevitable!" She brought her brother over to Matthew, who was having his hand aggressively shaken by the boy he had met sparingly at Kingston Castle.

"Thank you! Thank you so much! You're a true hero!"

Matthew pulled away from the boy. "Easy does it. You should be safe for now." He put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "But I wouldn't keep pursuing that Pokémon League run for a little bit, if I were you. I know the Syndicate. They tend to cling onto those they've captured before. I should know, my brother is one of them."

"Thanks again, Matthew" he remarked, bowing before him. "I'll be sure to head right home." With that, Eric hurried back into Trickton.

Matthew watched as he ran off and folded his arms. "Why can't these guys understand what we're up against?"

"Matthew" Holly called as she approached her friend. "You look different."

"I'm doing different things" Mathew told her. "I need to protect the people of Arcana from the Syndicate, especially since no one else can or will."

"You've certainly gotten stronger, too" Holly praised him. "But what was that about the Pokémon League you said? You're not going after the Champion's Title anymore?"

"You can't expect me to just go on as if nothing's changed, Holly" Matthew told her sternly. "I might be the only thing that's standing between the people of Arcana and the Syndicate. I mean, they killed my cousins!"

"I know" Holly sadly agreed, "but this is still a pretty dangerous situation to put yourself into."

"That's why I'm training up my Pokémon" he insisted. " I need to keep getting stronger so that I can make sure other people can go about their normal lives without worrying about them. I may not be chasing after the dream of being a Pokémon Master anymore, but Arcana has plenty of those. It needs someone who will stand up to those who oppress, lie and bully others. And it shouldn't matter if that person is part of the Syndicate or even the Kingstons."

Holly frowned, seeing the anger in her friend's eyes. He had certainly changed in the last few weeks. And likely not for the better.

{Meanwhile}

Ryan and Addison finally made it out of the Black Forest, the Wiccan Badge in hand and their friendship rebuilt. Though the two were still not quite sure how to feel about the other when it came to any feelings shared between them, they knew that they still had a task to look forward to: crossing over to the rest of Arcana and collecting the remaining three Gym Badges from Iron Mountain, Cauldro City and Titanio City. And that was more than enough to put their awkwardness aside, at least for the time being. There were more pressing matters to attend to. But deep down, both knew that the day would be coming when they would have to tell the other exactly how they felt, before anything else damaged their friendship.

As they neared the center of town, they came across the commotion caused by the skirmish between Matthew and the Syndicate Snatchers. As they watched young Eric run off past them and back towards the southern side of town, the two turned and saw the totaled truck that had once belonged to Lily and Lena. Ryan and Addison eyed each other nervously.

"Them again?" Addison asked.

"This can't be good" Ryan commented, spying Holly and Tommy standing with Matthew. Ryan was more than surprised to see his brother present in the town. "Matt?" He took off after his brother, happily waving to him as he approached. Matthew made eye contact with his brother, but did not seem as happy to see him. This caused Ryan to skid to a halt. "Uh, Matt?"

Matthew turned his back towards his brother. "Still off playing games, Ryan?"

Ryan raised his eyebrow. "What? No. I just got my Wiccan Badge from Aunt Shannon. I thought you'd want to see it."

"So you are still running around playing kid games" Matthew scoffed. "Pathetic."

Ryan was caught off guard by his brother's nasty remarks. "You mean, you're not going after Gym Badges anymore?"

"Don't be so naïve, Ryan" Matthew responded coldly. "There's more important things to worry about then getting those stupid Gym Badges. I've found something more important to fight for." He waved his brother off. "If you want to run around and keep playing those kiddy games, I won't stop you. But you shouldn't be dragging Addison or Holly down your path."

Addison was shocked by Matthew's harshness. "Matthew? What are you saying?"

Matthew looked back towards her. "Hey, Addy. I'm surprised you're still able to put up with my brother."

"What are you talking about, Matt?" she questioned. "We left Parlor Town as friends. Why are you being so nasty to Ryan?"

"Because Ryan needs a reality check" Matthew snapped. "Arcana isn't a playground for you to mess around in. I thought that lesson would have hit him when he found Taghwan Hall burned to the ground."

"You're hunting the Syndicate?" Holly asked her friend.

"Someone has to" Matthew hissed. "Especially when Michael's favorite is too busy collecting trinkets for his collection."

Fed up with his brother's insults, Ryan raced over to him and stood in front of him. "Alright, what's your problem with me? I haven't done a thing to you, Matt. We're on the same side, dude. We both want to do what Mike would have wanted, so stop acting like we're enemies!"

Matthew eyed him with a look of utter contempt and distaste. "Get out of my way, Ryan."

"Not until you stop acting like we're not brothers" Ryan declared.

Without warning or hesitation, Matthew smashed his brother in the face with his fist like a hammer, causing Ryan to fall to the ground. Holly screamed. Tommy was in complete shock. Addison hurried over to Ryan's side to check on him. Holly followed suit, using a tissue to wipe dirt off of his bruised face to ensure he was going to be alright. Addison looked up at Matthew in disgust.

"What's the matter with you?" she snapped. "He's your brother!"

"A brother who seems to be missing the point of everything" Matthew said scornfully. "What Pokémon League is he hoping to become Champion of? The one that's lying down and accepting the Syndicate running the show? Or the one that tore our family apart by not trusting Michael when the truth came out?"

"There's no reason to smack him around!" Holly called, clinging to Ryan as he tried to recover from the unexpected blow.

"Maybe there is" Matthew countered. "Maybe my brother needs a cold slap from reality. The Pokémon League doesn't matter anymore. It hasn't since Elezar Aced revealed himself! Now, we've got a real enemy to fight. This is war, Holly. Not fun and games. And if you guys can't understand that by now, you should just pack your things and go back to Parlor Town!"

Holly and Tommy helped Ryan to his feet. The trainer, still rocked by his brother's blow, now viewed his brother with little more than he would show an enemy. "If that's the way you want it, Matt, then fine! Let's go! Right now!"

Addison looked back. "Ryan, not now!"

Matthew laughed at his brother's challenge. "Maybe when I was a dimwit like you, you could battle circles around me. But I've been through training the likes of which you could never have sufficed, Ryan. You aren't in my league. Maybe, when you stop acting like a spoiled brat, I'll consider giving you a pity battle."

Holly gasped, still holding Ryan's arm. "How could you say that?"

Addison shook her head. "It doesn't matter. If Matthew wants to go off, let him. We can't control him."

"Finally, some sense from one of you" Matthew blurted. "Naturally, it came from Addy, though."

Addison returned his look with a cold one of her own. "I don't know where you've gotten this feeling of superiority, Matthew, but it's not deserved."

This caught Matthew by surprise. "What?"

"You think this whole 'tough guy' routine is fooling anyone?" she criticized. "You and I both know it's nothing but a façade. We all have grown up since we left Parlor Town. But while we are capable of realizing our mistakes and improving from them, you're hiding behind this persona that isn't you. You may have always had an abrasive side to you, but never against people who care about you. And Ryan and I are two of those people."

Matthew was silent for a moment, before laughing at Addison. "You see? That there's why I like you, Addy."

Addison stood, her arms folded. "Because I stood up to you?"

"No" Matthew said, his tone softening. "Because you're not afraid to speak your mind. Because you always knew how to cut to the heart of the matter. And, above all else, because I always have."

Ryan gasped. This isn't happening...

Matthew came over to Addison. "Look, I know I can be a little bit of a jerk, but I know you will make me a better person. We promised we'd travel together. Always remain a team. And I plan to make sure we stay that way." He took her hand in his and fell to his knee.

Holly's hand flew to her mouth. "What?"

Ryan was utterly dumbfounded. "I-I-"

"Addison Tenton" Matthew continued, "I can't remember the moment I realized I loved you. But I hope that you can share my memories with me for as long as we can, whenever we can."

Tommy's jaw dropped. "What the-"

Ryan lowered his head. Here it comes...

Addison was silent for a long moment, as if contemplating what one of her oldest friends had just told her. She took a deep breath before continuing. "You're absolutely right, Matt."

Holly was in absolute shock and looked to Ryan, who's misery continued to grow.

"We did promise to stick together" Addison continued. "As a team. You and me...and your brother!"

Matthew's eyes flashed. "What?"

"And you broke that promise three times, Matt" Addison denounced, wrenching her hand from his. "I've always cared about you and worried about you. And you made your brother and I worry about you every step of the way, without so much as a backwards glance. And every time I thought you were ready to finally step beyond what you'd shown us so far, you'd take another step backwards. You bailed out on us in Craft Terrace, you bailed out on us without even saying goodbye at Kingston Castle and you did it again after Mike died, at a time when we all needed you the most, just so you could go off to be a hero!"

Matthew rose to his feet in complete surprise. "I had to go stop the Syndicate. You don't see our parents running around and doing anything. It's got to be somebody's responsibility!"

"You had responsibilities" Addison reminded him. "To me, to your family, to your brother."

Matthew flared at the mention of Ryan. "My family turned their back on me when they did the same to Michael!" His eyes met Ryan's, who showed as little remorse for their cracking brotherhood as his did. "You know what, Ryan? After giving it some thought, I will battle you!"

Ryan pulled Holly off of him and stood his ground. "And why's that?"

"Just so I can wipe that STUPID LOOK OFF YOUR FACE!" Matthew reached onto his belt and pulled out a Poké Ball. "Go, Hitmonchan!" From out of the Poké Ball, the Hitmonchan appeared, punching the air as if ready for a brawl.

"Stop it, Matt!" Addison demanded, but Tommy pulled her out of the way as Ryan reached for his own Poké Ball.

"Go! Marahute!" From out of Ryan's Poké Ball appeared his Pidgeotto, raring to avenge herself from her disastrous outing against Shannon's Rotom. The Pidgeotto spied it's old rival in Hitmonchan and cawed confidently. Ryan made the first move. "Use Wing Attack!" Marahute soared at the Fighting Pokémon, her wings flashing as bright as the sun and she slammed into the Hitmonchan. "Bullseye!"

Addison looked to Ryan while Tommy and Holly held her back. "Ryan, you have to stop this!"

Matthew's eyes flared. "Hitmonchan! Use Counter!" The Hitmonchan's eyes lit up and with almost blinding speed, slammed into Marahute and knocked her to the ground in an instant knockout.

Ryan recalled his Marahute and continued to eye his brother with frustration. "Looks like you're not as pathetic as I remember."

"Keep talking, Ryan" Matthew provoked. "And I might just give you the same mark on the other side of your face."

"GO! ACHILLES!" Ryan sent out his Gallade, who stood firmly opposed to the Hitmonchan. With one Psycho Cut, the Hitmonchan was felled and collapsed in front of his trainer. "Take that!"

Matthew grunted. "Go! Noivern!" From out of his Poké Ball appeared his newest addition to his team, the Dragon Pokémon, Noivern. The two limbed Pokémon shrieked into the skies and flapped it's wings violently. "Use Hurricane!" The Noivern flapped its wings rapidly, sending a powerful windstorm directly at Achilles. He tried to stand his ground, but was swept into the skies and slammed hard to the ground, knocked out. The winning trainer laughed. "I guess your little mushroom is still just as weak!"

Ryan's eyes flared. "You asked for it! Go, Sparks!" His Jolteon emerged from the Poké Ball, crackling with the power of electricity.

As the twins prepared to clash again, Addison finally got the inner voice to intervene. "THAT IS ENOUGH!" Her Gardevoir appeared between both of them. Sparks, recognizing it as Addison's, sat down when the powerful Psychic Pokémon looked down at him. Matthew's Noivern didn't seem to get the message, as it began to breath fire in the Jolteon's direction. Galatea sent the flames right back into the Noivern's mouth, causing it to tumble over towards Matthew.

Ryan took a deep breath. "Addy's right, Matt. We have to stop."

Matthew glared at the two of them. "Why do you two have to be so dense? I'm doing what's right for all of Arcana!"

"You call attacking your brother being right?" Addison countered.

"I got a little emotional. It happens to the best of us. What, is that a problem?"

Addison stood beside her Gardevoir and faced Matthew. "We aren't your enemies, Matthew. But if you ever challenge one of us out of malice again, you will be. Do I make myself clear?"

Matthew looked down at his feet in a mixture of emotions, before climbing atop his Noivern and flying off into the skies beyond Trickton. Ryan and the others came up to Addison's side and watched as Matthew disappeared among the clouds. Addison lowered her head. "Matt, what are you becoming?" She then looked towards the others. "Let's go rest at the Pokémon Center before we head off."

"Addy" Ryan asked her. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine, but let's go heal your Pokémon" she said, brushing off the subject of what had just happened quickly. As she headed back for the Trickton Pokémon Center, her friends followed quickly after her, only making quick glances back towards where Matthew had once been, knowing that was probably the last time they were going to be seeing him for a long time.

{Meanwhile}

High in the skies above Arcana, Matthew lamented his failures. He had not convinced his brother to go home, he had failed to dominate their next match like he had promised himself he would, and now Addison had completely rejected his feelings for her. His frustration boiling over, he reached for his Poké Gear to make a call. He quickly thumbed through his contacts before calling who he wanted to.

"This is Matthew. I need more training."

"Are you sure?" the person's voice asked. "We've kinda got a lot of things going on here."

"My brother's being stupid and the love of my life just rejected me!" Matthew insisted. "I'm going to get stronger, no matter what!"

"Very well."

"I'll meet you at Iron Mountain" Matthew told his mentor.

"No, I have a different place for us to meet. I'll send you the coordinates." With that, the conversation ended. Matthew grabbed onto his Noivern tightly as the Dragon raced of into the heavens.