In the green grasses just in front of the Pokémon League HQ, Ryan and his friends sat in general silence. They may have escaped from the Syndicate Compound with their lives, but at what cost? Holly was already fully branded, Ryan partially, Jocelyn might have been critically wounded and now all of them were known major foes of the Syndicate. Even the protection of Michael and The Elite Four wouldn't save them fully.

They had all bunched together in groups to look after one another. Dylan, Amber and Corey sat as a trio, going through what footage Dylan had captured while on their little quest, including a few shots of Jocelyn and Elezar's clash and the arrival of Michael and The Elite Four. Though the three were unharmed physically, the near brushes with capture and death had definitely shaken them. Dylan found himself needing to be closer to his friends than they had ever been before. Corey himself was having small PTSD styled recollections of the explosions his ES Devices caused. Amber clung to both of her friends as she tried to process what they were all enduring. But as a unit, the three had made it out of the Compound relatively unscathed.

The same could not be said for Ryan and his friends. Though Ryan's own partial brand stung his arm greatly, it was nothing compared to what Holly was going through. One of his closest friends was shaking violently, with her skin feeling as cold as ice as Ryan and Tommy tried to comfort her. She appeared at the point of total convulsion, to which only her little brother's loving strokes and warm embraces managed to chase away. Ryan held her hand as she had his during his own times of turmoil, but he could feel as if she was slipping further into darkness and there wasn't a thing he could do to save her from it, at least none that he knew.

The Elite Four had taken a savage beating from the likes of the Taghwan Hall Fires. Cameron's long flowing brown hair had been burned off in the flames, prompting her to have to cut most of it off, with her now sporting a crew cut to go along with several bruises around her body and a chipped front tooth. Lizzie had also been forced to remove most of her hair from the fire and now seemed more reliant on her famous pilot's goggles than she had ever been before, with her eyesight irreparably damaged in the fires. While Mark seemed to be able to walk on his own strength, most of his body was covered in thick bandages and he would have to lean on something if he was unable to sit, showing that the once mighty Kanto Champion was not in the prime of his power as he once had been. Chris's famously long beard was all but gone, scorched by the flames he had been hit by. He also had his right arm in a sling and several limbs bandaged. Despite their injuries, Ryan couldn't help but admire each and every one of them for their bravery and the downright horrifying presence they instilled in Elezar and Matthew.

Michael stood by the side of the critically wounded Jocelyn and her Dragapult. While the Dragon Pokémon was reluctant to let anyone near his trainer while he was out, he seemed to understand that Michael meant her no harm as he checked to ensure she was still with them. Jocelyn's face was scratched and bloodied, and thanks to a tear in her shirt, Ryan could tell there was a seriously big bruise in the middle of her stomach. No matter what Ryan could think of, she was probably worse off than that. She was barely responsive, only an occasional moan of pain after the blow she'd received. Ryan knew that if she pulled through this, he would owe her a great deal for what she had been through just to save his life and those of his friends.

Michael himself was a shell of what he had been the last time Ryan had seen him. He had a deep scar on his fact that went from the center of his forehead down towards his left ear and most of his lower body bandaged up completely, thus making his movements less fluid and more mechanical. He was still in the outfit he had donned during the Taghwan Hall Tragedy, which showed great signs of burning and singeing that had taken place to the rest of his body. But, like the Michael he had always known, the Champion was more concerned with the others than he had been himself.

Ryan watched as his cousin stood over Jocelyn, in awe that Michael had survived the fires and come in time to rescue him. He didn't even know where to begin with his cousin. There were so many questions he wanted to ask, so many things he felt he needed to know, but he always defaulted back towards the absolute joy inside of him as he realized that he was still alive and here with him at this very moment.

Sensing the turmoil inside Ryan's head, Tommy gestured for him to go to talk to Michael, while he held his still violently shaking sister. Ryan let go of Holly's hand and rose to his feet to finally face his cousin for the first time in what felt like an eternity. Michael turned to face him, his face largely unreadable. He didn't appear to be angry, bitter or happy. He just seemed sad. A deep kind of sad that Ryan had felt inside of him since Addison was abducted. After what felt like a century of the two of them staring at each other, Ryan raced for Michael and buried his head into his cousin's torso, sobbing uncontrollably.

"You're here" he cried. "You're really, really here!"

"I'm here, Ry" Michael told him, putting his hand on the boys back, gently patting it. "I'm still here."

Ryan looked up to him, his eyes wet with sorrow and relief. "I thought you were dead. We all did!" He the returned to burying his head into his cousin's shirt, shaking as Holly had been, but for different reasons.

"You should have known better" Michael told him. "I'm the champ. Nothing takes me down without a fight." He continued to pat his cousin's back, but Ryan could feel his shift in body language as a sign that his cousin's mood was changing. "You should have also known better than to get involved with them."

Ryan took a step back from his cousin and lowered his head. "I know."

"Do you realize you could have been killed?" Michael said angrily. "Or worse? I specifically told you not to get involved with The Syndicate and you deliberately disobeyed me!"

Ryan sniffed sadly. "But, we thought you were dead."

"And that gives you an excuse to put the lives of your friends in danger?" Michael bitterly pointed towards Holly. "Take a look at Holly. Look at what they've done to her, Ryan! She's been pierced by the Crimson Brand and there might not even be a cure for that! Heaven only knows what they've done to Addison. You put the lives of yourself and your friends in danger. And for what? So you could run around being a hero? I hope you're proud of yourself."

"If we didn't act" Ryan tried to explain, with the last splinters of joy leaving him, "Elezar would have overrun things."

"The responsibility to defeat Elezar was never yours" Michael said sternly. "That fell on your parents or the police. Not on the backs of children. Did you forget what the Syndicate was capable of? I would have thought you'd have used that brain of yours, Ry. I am very disappointed in you, right now."

Ryan lowered his head, tears coming out of his eyes. "I'm sorry, Mike. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen."

Michael fell down to his knees and put his hands on Ryan's shoulders. "There are people out there who love you, kid. Who don't want to see anything bad happen to you. And your actions are a basically a spit in their faces. How can you call yourself a Pokémon Trainer and not realize that all actions have consequences?"

Ryan nodded sheepishly, peering up at his older cousin. "It's all my fault. I drove Matt away. I got Holly and Tommy in danger. And now, I don't even know where Addy is. Mike, we have to save her. I can never forgive myself if anything happens to her. I don't care what kind of danger she's in. I have to help her."

Michael rose back to his feet and shook his head. "No."

"No?" Ryan asked, surprised that his cousin would answer so quickly.

"The only place you and Tommy are going is home" Michael barked. "I warned you not to go out and do anything stupid and you refused to listen. Your part in this story is over."

Ryan could feel his heart cracking again. "Mike, please-"

But the Champion would have none of it. "When you two get back to Parlor Town, you both are going to remain at your house until I come back. And if you so much as wander off to the store without my consent, I'll strip you of your Trainer's License and your Pokémon. Do I make myself clear?"

Seeing the absolute anger in his cousin's eyes, Ryan nodded and walked back over to his friend's side and lowered his head as tears fell from his eyes. He watched as Chris went over to talk to Michael. "Come on, Mike. Don't be too hard on the kid. We were up to all kinds of mischief when we were their age."

"And look at the price we've paid for it" Michael retorted bitterly. With that, Michael walked over to the ArcResistance team. Ryan watched as the team suddenly dropped whatever they were doing to address the Champion that had saved their lives. "I owe you three kids an unpayable debt. You've not only unmasked the Syndicate for all of Arcana to see, but because of your actions, I still have my cousin."

"It was nothing, Mr. Mike" Dylan said, in awe of being in the presence of the Champion.

"Just doing our duty" Corey replied.

"We were glad to help" Amber said politely. "We only wish we could do more."

"Unfortunately" Michael continued, "Titanio City is under lockdown and most of it is either on fire or blacked out. I can't send you kids home in good faith. However, I do have a safe place you guys can call home for a little bit. And maybe to work on your show in the process."

"We'd be honored, Mr. Mike" Dylan said proudly.

"Good" Michael said. "You kids will be taken back to Parlor Town by The Elite Four, then."

The Elite Four slowly stumbled to their feet. Cameron was the first to speak. "So, what is our plan, Mike?"

Michael paused. "For the moment, we're going to have to split up. The Syndicate has made their ambitions crystal clear. They'll have an army of Crimson Branded Soldiers at their disposal." Michael looked back towards the Pokémon League HQ. "And if we don't act soon, nothing we do will be able to matter. I'd like to make the League HQ our base, but it needs to be The Ranch."

"What about Kingston Castle?" Mark asked. "There are plenty of resources there."

"I have a feeling about where the Syndicate's Base is" Michael told his old friend. "And if it proves true, Kingston Castle won't be close enough for any action to take place. The Ranch is the only place it can be, right now."

"We're ready for our orders, Mike" Lizzie said loyally.

"The most important thing is to make sure everyone gets where they need to be" Michael commanded, "including the kids." He looked towards Lizzie, Mark and Chris. "You three are tasked with bringing these kids back to Parlor Town. The ArcResistance team here has full usage of the Ranch's resources until I come back." He then put his arms on the shoulders of Lizzie and Mark. "Then, I need you two to make some calls."

"To who?" Lizzie asked.

"Everyone you know" Michael told her. "Elezar wants a war, I'm going to give him one. We need all the help we can get." Ryan was determined to make a case for himself, but Chris waved at him and shook his head, prompting Ryan to lower his head in sorrow once more.

"Chris" Michael spoke softly as he turned towards his cousin, "I need you to activate the KERN and get every single Kingston worth their salt to The Ranch in two days." He then looked back at Ryan and Tommy. "And make sure those two boys stay at home if Aunt Alison or Uncle Robert have to go anywhere."

Chris nodded. "You can count on me, bud."

Michael's next orders fell on Cameron. "Cam, I need you to bring Jocelyn to Kingston Castle."

"Kingston Castle?" Cameron asked.

"It's the only safe place where they may be able to help her recover and keep her safe" Michael said solemnly. "She's done her part, now we need to do ours by her." He looked back at Elezar's daughter and shook his head before returning his gaze towards his second in command. "And after that, I need you to meet me in the Orre Region."

Cameron looked bizarrely at her cousin. "Why Orre?"

Michael walked over to where Ryan and Tommy were sitting and picked up Holly into his arms. "Because if I don't get Holly immediate treatment, she might not survive this."

Cameron nodded. "Will do."

Tommy jumped up and ran over towards Michael. Ryan tried to hold him back, but the boy wouldn't stop until he reached the Champion who was carrying his sister. "Mr. Michael! Wait!"

Michael turned towards the boy and eyed him sternly. "Yes?"

Tommy's bravado quickly faded as the Champion's eyes pierced him like daggers. He fell backwards and took a deep breath. "Please. Is my Sister going to be okay?"

Michael called out Rhaegal, who emerged from his Poké Ball and eagerly took the sickly girl on his back. He then climbed atop after her and sighed. "I don't know. I truly do not know, Tommy." With that, Michael rode his Dragonite high into the skies and flew off into the distance.

"Let's get to work, people" Cameron said. "We've only got a few days before the Family assembles at the Ranch." With the help of her brother, Cameron put the seriously wounded Jocelyn onto her Salamence and then climbed up after her. She looked towards Ryan and sighed. "Hey Ry?"

Ryan looked up at her. "Yeah, Cam?"

"He'll cool down" Cameron said kindly. "He always does." With that, she took off into the skies and flew off for Kingston Castle, with Jocelyn's Dragapult close behind her. Ryan watched on sadly as Michael and Cameron disappeared from his sight, before he called out his Pidgeot to fly him and Tommy back to Parlor Town. With no amount of words to be able to change the dour mood he was in, Ryan simply climbed on the back of Marahute, pulled up Tommy behind him and flew off behind his cousin, Mark and Lizzie.

I let Michael down. I let everyone down...

{Meanwhile}

While Piper got some much needed rest, Julia took over on the KERN Radio System to try and figure out exactly what had happened in Titanio City. Ever since Big Mike had seemingly gone insane on the KERN, they had heard nothing about what was going on in the city. Rumors were pouring in that massive fire had started at the ArcTV Studios, which was corroborated by many still in the KERN, who pointed out that ArcTV was completely offline. There was no error messages or anything. The whole network was completely down.

Julia massaged her temples, hoping to hear word from anybody, while Amanda continued to work the computers and wrap up deciphering all of the leaked information Jocelyn had provided for them. She suspected many of the KERN Members had already gone to bed, but she was expecting to hear something from those who had said they would be going to Titanio City.

Finally, Tori chimed in on the Radio on her and Billy's behalf. "Anyone still up?"

"I'm here" Daniel answered, "but Mom and Dad are asleep."

"What did you find, Tori?" Julia asked.

"ArcTV is completely burned to the ground" she explained. "The Police are arresting panicking Syndicate Troops as they go. More than 50 taken in so far. How are things on your end, Billy?"

"They must have inhaled a bit too much of the smoke" Billy chimed in. "They keep claiming they were seeing ghosts."

"Ghosts?" Julia puzzled. "As in Ghost Pokémon?"

"No" Billy replied. "Just Ghosts. One of them even claimed to have seen...you know what, never mind. It's not in good taste to-"

"Come on, Billy" Daniel called to his older cousin. "Spit it out."

"Well, okay. One of them claimed to see Mike."

"You mean my Dad?" Tori asked.

"No, your brother" Billy said.

Julia sighed. "It was Smoke Inhalation, then. Has anyone heard from Renee?"

"She wasn't in Piper's Penthouse" Tori explained. "I guess she must have gone home."

"Why not say anything, though?" Julia asked.

"Renee's always been like that" Tori reasoned.

"Uh, Professor?" Amanda called over. "I think you should take a look at this."

Julia looked over and nodded. "Okay, guys. Keep reporting in what you find." She then got off of the radio and made her way over to Amanda. "Did you find anything unique?"

"Something's coming in on Radar" Amanda said. "The security monitors are picking it up. Two Flying Pokémon coming directly for Kingston Castle from the East."

"We're not expecting any other Kingstons to show up, are we?" Julia asked.

"Not that I'm aware of" Amanda replied. "They're landing outside the Castle Gates."

"Switch to the security cameras" Julia said.

As Amanda clicked onto the Security Monitors and saw the two Pokémon that had landed near the Castle Gates: a Dragapult and a Salamence. "Well, the Dragapult is obviously Jocelyn's. But what is she doing here? And who's the guy with the Salamence?"

Julia tried to look at the figures more closely. "Something happened to Jocelyn. She's in that guy's arms." When the camera switched to a position closer to the guards standing at attention, she got a much closer look at the person carrying Jocelyn. She gasped. "It can't be."

Amanda eyed the person. "Who is it?"

Julia was unable to speak for a moment. "I have to go." She raced for the elevator and pushed the button nearly a dozen times until it went back up. It can't be her. It can't be Cam. Please, mind. Please don't do this to me, right now. As the elevator doors opened, Julia raced through the foyer and out the doors of Kingston Castle and towards the Castle Gates. She could hear her voice echoing through the night.

"I don't care what your orders are" Cameron said bitterly. "This girl just saved your lives and she needs Medical Attention!"

"I'm sorry, Miss" the guard said. "But our orders are-"

"Stand down" Julia said to the guards.

The guards did so without question. Cameron looked past her and smiled faintly, with a seriously wounded Jocelyn in her arms. "Hey, Jules."

"Cameron" Julia said softly, her eyes watering up already. She looked at her side and saw the bad shape Jocelyn was in. She turned quickly to the guards. "Bring her into the Medical Wing."

"Right away, Miss Pines" one answered as the two took Jocelyn into their care and brought her past the gates and into the Castle. Julia rushed past the two of them and flung her arms around Cameron. Cameron, though thankful to see she was okay, seemed hesitant to hug her back.

"I'm so happy you're okay" Julia whispered.

"I'm sorry, but I can't stay" Cameron said politely, taking Julia's arms off of her. "I have to be in Orre. Our battle isn't nearly over yet." She watched as the Dragapult floated along after his master before she climbed atop her Salamence. Julia raced for her side.

"Please, Cameron" Julia cried out.

Cameron looked down at her, a look of sorrow, fatigue and acknowledgement on her face. "Yeah?"

Julia gulped and took a deep breath before she asked her question. "If you're here, does that mean-"

"I'll tell him you asked about him" she said, before she took off into the skies above Kingston Castle.

Julia nearly lost her footing, both from the rush of news and the massive wing span of the Salamence. Her hand fell on her heart, which beat happily for the first time in months. "He's alive. He's alive." She began a slow walk towards the castle, before it turned into a jog and then into a full on sprint. She burst through the doors, cheering for the first time in a very long time.

Gerard was the first she swept up in her hurricane of joy. "Miss Pines? Are you well?"

"He's alive, Gerard! HE'S ALIVE!" she celebrated, running towards the butler and kissing him on his cheek. She then danced cheerfully into the elevator and sent it back down towards the Computer Rooms in the cellar. When it landed, Piper and Amanda both looked at her like she had also lost her mind.

"Julia?" Piper asked her. "Are you okay?"

"Professor?"

Julia raced towards each of them and embraced them warmly, her face full of joyous tears. "I've never been better!" She put Amanda down and squeezed Piper tightly in her arms. "Oh Piper. It's a miracle!"

"What are you talking about?" she asked, trying to retain her breath. "What's a miracle?"

"The person who brought Jocelyn here" Julia said, trying to keep her joy contained long enough to hear herself think. "It was Cameron. Cameron!"

"Cameron Kingston?" Amanda gasped.

"It couldn't have been" Piper said, not wanting to believe it. "Julia lost her mind. It can't be." Piper looked away. "Don't do this to me, Julia. It isn't funny."

"Piper" Julia whispered tearfully. "He's alive. Michael's alive."

Piper shook her head. "Stop it! You're not funny!"

"I'm not joking, Piper!" Julia cried. "He's okay! He's alive!"

Piper, overwhelmed by the news herself, collapsed into her chair. "Mikey's alive?"

A voice broke in on the KERN in the other corner of the room. "This is a K1 Emergency Broadcast on the KERN! It's good to hear from you all again."

"Is that Christopher?" Amanda asked.

"Who is this?" Daniel asked on the radio.

"This is a K1 Emergency Broadcast on the KERN! By order of the Champion, every Kingston and Kingston Ally worth their salt, is to report to the Ranch in Parlor Town for an Emergency Family Meeting in exactly Two Days Time! This has been Chris Kingston and boy is it good to be back! WHOOO-HOOO!"

"Who let the prank caller in?" Madeline asked on the line.

Julia rushed over to the KERN. "Madeline, it's them. Cameron just brought Jocelyn to Kingston Castle. They're alive!"

"They're all okay?" Greg asked. "Even Mikey?"

"Even Mikey, Greg" Julia cried. She put down the KERN Microphone and cheerfully leaped into the air. She paused when she saw that Amanda and Piper weren't as celebratory as she was. "What's up with you guys? Come on, we won!"

"Professor" Amanda said sadly. "I'm overjoyed at the news, really I am. But-"

"But what, Amanda?" Julia asked.

Piper took a deep breath. "Amanda's trying to bring up a point, Jules."

"What point?" Julia said, confused.

"Professor" Amanda frowned, "you ended your relationship with him. Don't you remember?"

Julia's burst of joy suddenly came crashing down to reality and the meaning behind Cameron's less than enthused hug of her now started to make sense. She remembered that Michael's spiral before the Taghwan Hall attacks was because of her ending their relationship. And now, instead of bringing Jocelyn to Kingston Castle himself, he had sent Cameron to do it. She lowered her head, laughing sadly at her own mistakes. Even when he comes back from the dead, he still respects me enough to abide by my wishes. But those were wishes made in fear and unknown emotions.

"Don't worry, Julia" Piper said to her cousin. "I know that when you reach out to him, he'd talk to you."

Julia slumped back into a chair. "I was so excited to know he was okay, I forgot what I said to him. How can you possibly take back throwing someone's love in their face? How can I ever make things up to him?"

"Julia" Piper said defiantly, "You are his whole universe. All you have to do is reach out to him. Head back to the Ranch when he's there. Trust me, I'm sure he'll be more than happy to see you."

Julia shook her head. "Not when you saw the look in his eyes that I did. No, I don't think I can face him, right now. Not like this."

"Professor" Amanda said sadly.

Julia rose from the chair and walked off on her own, turning back to them. "There are somethings you can't change, no matter how much you'd like to." She walked back into the elevator and slumped against the wall of the room and slid to the ground, putting her hands to her face. What have I done? What have I done?

{Meanwhile}

Ryan recognized the familiar quiet streets and simple pleasures of Parlor Town as he and the others landed just outside of Ryan's home. Ryan and Tommy hopped off of Marahute's back and Ryan recalled his Pokémon. He looked up towards Chris, who urged him sadly to go inside and talk to his parents. While Chris and the others brought the ArcResistance team to the Ranch to situate them there, Ryan slowly made his way for the door and turned the knob to let him and Tommy inside.

The house was quiet, but the fire was going in the living room, so he knew his parents were home. "Mom? Dad?"

"Ryan?" Robert asked.

"Is that you?" his mother called.

"It's me" Ryan said, his depression coming out with every word. "I'm home."

His mother was around the corner towards the door in an instant, flinging her arms around him and showering her son with kisses. "Thank the heavens you boys are safe. We've been waiting for an update of some kind, but no one's said a word." She pulled her son close to her. "It's okay, sweetie. You're home now."

Tommy shuffled awkwardly in position behind Ryan. "I think I should call my parents and let them know I'm here."

Alison let go of Ryan and nodded. "Of course, Tommy. Let's go talk to them." She looked towards Ryan. "Go and talk to your father, Ryan."

As Tommy and his mother walked off towards the kitchen, Ryan walked over into the living room and sat beside his father, who's leg was perched up on a pillow on the couch. Robert looked over to his son and smiled. "It's gonna be okay, son."

Ryan shook his head. "No, it's not."

Robert sighed. "I know things don't look good, Ryan. But you have to trust in your cousins. They are going to set things right, son."

Ryan looked to his father, sorrow on his face. "No it's not, Dad. I'm never going to see her ever again."

Robert called his son over. "Come here, buddy." Ryan hugged his injured father, and looked down his face and almost laughed.

"I don't think I have any tears left" he remarked.

Robert patted his son on the head. "Come on, Ryan. You got to buck up."

"How? How can I buck up? All my friends are getting hurt by these people!"

"Like I told you yesterday, champ" Robert said solemnly, "this is life. There are a lot of highs and a lot of lows. This has just been a period of a lot of lows." He picked the boy's chin up. "You are going to see her again, Ryan. You'll see her and Holly and all of your friends. Things are going to get better."

"You didn't see the way Mike looked at me" Ryan recalled.

"Oh" Robert chuckled, "I've seen that look plenty of times. Even from him. It's the look of someone who loves you, but wants to keep you safe."

"Why did you see it from him?" Ryan asked.

"I saw it from my father" Robert sighed. "Lots more times than you have from Mike. And he just wanted to look after me, just like Michael only wants to look after you guys."

Ryan slumped beside his Dad's couch. "I just want to do something right by someone for once."

Robert shook his head. "You have done right by people, kiddo. How else would you have made such good friends in the first place? And Michael won't be mad at you forever. Trust me, Ry. You're not a bad person. You can do right by people. And you will do right by people."

"How do you know?" Ryan asked.

"Because I know you, Ry." He took his son's bandanna off and messed up his hair. He took a look at the bandanna and fell back. "Ugh, this is gross. I need to get this one washed."

Ryan smiled sadly and looked into the fireplace, his thoughts still on his best friend in all of the world. Don't worry, Addy. I swear I'll find you and get you back. I swear it!

{Meanwhile}

For the first time in the Syndicate's History, all twelve of it's Administrators, as well as The Grand Master, had gathered at their primary fortress on Mt. Heatmor. All 12 Seats at the table in the Assembly Hall had been filled. Elezar sat at the head of the table, his back to The Grand Master who continued to cloak himself in darkness. On Elezar's right sat Cassius, Claude, Walter, Lily and Lena, all of whom had been assembled from the Compound and brought to the base with great haste. To his left sat Matthew, Victor, Nadine, Archer and Hunter, most of whom had already made their way to the Base before the Elite Four and Michael had returned, save for Matthew, the most recent to arrive. Opposite of Elezar was Courtney, a devilish smile on her face since the news had sparked that Michael Kingston had indeed survived the Taghwan Hall Fires.

The Grand Master was the first to speak on their present situation. The time for living in the shadows of Arcana, has come and gone. We have operated under these restrictions long enough and have nothing to show for it. I want a full progress report on what has gone down. Including what I already know. Elezar, why don't you begin?

Elezar cleared his throat. "The Kingstons are preparing for war. Thanks to the intelligence provided by Matthew, we know that the Kingston Family was originally planning to challenge us on our terms, which would have been quite bountiful for us. Naturally, it did not go to plan, with the unforeseen betrayal of Jocelyn."

"It was only unforeseen if you were wearing blinders" Courtney hissed.

"Gotta agree with the firebrand, Elezar" Hunter blurted out. "That child was trouble from the minute I laid eyes on her."

"Her betrayal" Elezar continued, "has crippled our abilities to make more Crimson Brand soldiers. We destroyed all of the evidence of our work in the Compound, including what might have been 300 additional prisoners we had. A loss, but not an irredeemable one."

"We have some prisoners at the base here" Cassius pointed out. "But not enough to greatly enhance our numbers. If the Kingstons strike before we are capable of getting back into Snatching, we may be all the strength the Syndicate has."

"And how many would that be?" Claude inquired.

"Just over two thousand in total" Cassius explained. One thousand and eighty of our own recruits and one thousand branded soldiers. Or, more precisely, 999 soldiers. It seems that one of them has been removed for an undisclosed reason." Cassius glared over the table towards Matthew.

"My terms of letting you brand her were simple" Matthew snarled. "She's mine! Not yours!"

"But will those 300 additional subjects have mattered?" Elezar asked.

"300 versus 1000?" Archer laughed. "Come on, now, Elezar. There aren't a thousand Kingstons left in the world to pose a threat to us!"

But when one Kingston is worth several of our own men and then some, perhaps the odds are far more balanced than we should be comfortable with. And that one Kingston seemed to make two of you shiver in fear but a few hours ago.

Matthew looked away, bitterly. "If I have to fight Mike, I will."

"And you'll lose" Courtney chimed in.

"How do you know?" Matthew snapped at her.

"One has to understand power before they can wield it" she told the boy. "And I know your cousin, very well."

"Do you believe that Michael Kingston and the Elite Four tip the scales that much?" Claude asked.

I do. Michael has the gift of the Crimson Fury inside of him. And unlike the Michael that went into Taghwan Hall that day, this one appears to have no qualms about dispensing with his enemies. One with his penchant for fury and the powerful Pokémon at his disposal, is more than a match for most here.

Hunter folded his arms behind his head. "Good thing I'm not 'most'."

"You?" Nadine laughed. "What have you done for our cause? As far as I remember, we've had to do more for you than you've ever contributed to the Syndicate!"

"Sweet, naïve Nadine" Hunter snickered, his confidence unnerving. "I don't need to run around, stroking the ego of my superiors as you seem to need to. I stand for myself. And I stand to know all that the power of the Mythical Pokémon at their sides have to offer. I once had Jirachi in my grasp. And I once sought to seize the power of Celebi too, but those plans didn't end well. The Elite Four and Michael have more reason to fear me than anyone of you at this table."

"Everyone who is seated in this room has a role to play in our future" Elezar insisted.

"Most everyone" Victor remarked, glaring at the fidgeting Walter O'Hara at the table. "I don't think this one is going to be of much use, though."

"Thanks to the ArcResistance Team" Matthew said, pulling out his Poké Gear and watching the videos that Dylan and his friends had uploaded online, "they know all about Walter's involvement. The video has millions of views and almost as many shares online."

"I just wish there had been a video of you wetting yourself when Michael glared at you" Courtney sneered.

Hunter cackled. "I meant to ask, Elezar, what is a ten year old doing here?"

"I'm twelve!" Matthew growled.

"I thought it was bad enough having Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dumber over here" the poacher snickered, pointing towards Lily and Lena.

"Hey!" Lena shouted. "We play a crucial role in this Syndicate!"

"As lightning rods?" Matthew asked.

"Stay out of this!" Lily countered. "If it weren't for you messing us up-"

"As I said before" Elezar interrupted, causing Lily to lower her head, "everyone here will have a role to play in the Syndicate's future."

I will admit I have my doubts about the structure of your precious Syndicate, Elezar. It seems that everyone here has their own separate agenda instead of one unifying one. And the only person who seemed loyal enough to follow you, has since turned her back on you. Whether you admit it or not, Jocelyn's betrayal has affected your way of thinking. I have to wonder if you are still capable of running this operation.

"I am more than capable" Elezar said boldly. "I have a vendetta against Michael Kingston and I will settle the score between us!" Courtney took out a nail file and began to file her nails, humming a little tune to herself. "Do you have a comment?"

"I was imagining how nice your head would be on a mantle when Michael's done with you" she giggled.

"Is that a threat?" Nadine accused.

"The Grand Master is right, Elezar" Courtney continued, ignoring Nadine. "You are slipping. And as one of the few here who isn't completely sold on your dreams and ambitions, I have to keep my options open. Michael certainly is more handsome than you."

"Hold your tongue!" Nadine snapped. "Elezar is the greatest-"

"ENOUGH!" Cassius shouted. "Have we all forgotten why we're here at all? We joined forces for three common goals: to complete the research of Balthazar Aced, to build an army of powerful and aggressive Pokémon Trainers and to dominate over Arcana! We are all in this for the same goals! If we don't act as a unit against the Kingstons, they are going to utterly obliterate us!"

"Well put, Cassius" Elezar complimented. "You are all dismissed. Go to your positions as we've discussed at length. The Four Guardians of the Tower should brace themselves, should the Kingstons make it here."

Victor and Nadine rise from their chairs and bow to Elezar. "It's an honor to serve as one of your guardians, Elezar."

"And we will be sure not to fail you, My Lord" Nadine said endearingly. The two then made their way for their chambers to serve as two of the fortresses Four Guardians.

Claude then rose and acknowledged those present. "While the idea of serving as a glorified sentry does not entice me" he said dryly, "going after the remnants of Bonnie's family might satisfy my curiosities at the very least." He then followed Victor and Nadine out of the room.

Matthew rose from the table next. "I'm off to train. I'm gonna show them all no mercy, because I expect none from Michael." He then bowed to Elezar and left the room.

"I don't why you even bothered naming Guardians" Archer protested. "With me in charge of the Syndicate Troops on the battlefield, they won't even land on these shores. I'll send them all back to Parlor Town with their tails between their legs." He then departed and looked to the twins. "Let's go, you two. You're working for me now."

"Front line duty" Lena said unenthusiastically. "How delightful."

"And here I thought things would never get any better" Lily added before they departed with Archer. Walter rose slowly from the table and made his way to his quarters, muttering about his soiled reputation and his bleak future in the entertainment and news business.

Cassius stood up and nodded to Elezar. "If you'll excuse me, I'm off to ensure that my labs here are up to my expectational levels."

As he watched Cassius depart, Elezar was alarmed that Hunter and Courtney had remained behind. "Anything else to comment from the peanut gallery?"

Courtney folded her hands. "Lady Courtney Kingston" she mocked. "I like the sound of that. Hehehehehe!"

"Nothing on my end, Elezar" Hunter said.

The Leader of the Syndicate rose from his seat and looked at the two suspiciously before departing from the chamber. When he was gone, the two remaining Syndicate Admins snickered. "It's almost too easy to get under that worm's skin" Courtney grinned.

"And why does he have to stick around?" Hunter asked The Grand Master.

In case this operation blows up in his face, Elezar will the make the perfect fall man for this. He has already failed me more than enough times to realize his dreams of ruling over Arcana as it's king will never come to pass. The others can join him for all I care, so long as Cassius provides for me what I need in working Crimson Branding Machines.

"Yet you seem to have grown attached to us" Hunter pointed out. "Why are we so special?"

"I happen to have a strong telekinetic bond with The Grand Master" Courtney told him. "We are almost sharing one singular mind."

I have selected you, Hunter, for your connection to the Legendary and Mythical Pokémon of the world. Surely, you did not think your obsession with rare and powerful Pokémon was a mere coincidence?

"The thought never occurred to me" Hunter said bluntly.

No matter. You will play your role perfectly, as will Courtney. There is just one alteration I need to make of you.

"Alteration?" Hunter asked.

Perhaps Courtney would care to demonstrate?

Courtney sighed. "I wanted the power of The Crimson Fury" she explained to Hunter. "But The Grand Master believes that this will be just as potent." She takes off her Team Magma hood and pulls up here her lavender colored bangs, to reveal an intricately designed pattern on her head. "I am now one with the greatest power in the universe. And all of it's secrets will soon be mine. Yours too, if you join up, that is."

Hunter looked towards the ominous presence of The Grand Master and smirked. "Sign me up."