There was something different about Ecruteak City when Matthew and Jocelyn arrived there. The exiled Arcanan trainer did not quite know what to make of the mysterious village when first stepped through it's city limits. Unlike the port towns of Ollivine City and Cianwood City, this one was quite landlocked, with a rustic appearance to it that made it stand out from the other towns they had been to so far.
It had been just over a month since Matthew had accepted his life in exile and been granted a Charmander from Professor Oak upon arriving in Johto. And while he was still seeking to settle the score between him and his brother, he knew that until he showed some kind of progress as a person, he would never be allowed to even consider returning to Arcana. Changing his outlook on the world, however, was easier said than done. After all, he had been on top of the world before Ryan had showed up an handed him a humiliating defeat along with Addison's Gardevoir. Now, instead of fighting alongside the Syndicate and potentially inheriting it from Elezar and The Grand Master, his former comrades in arms were either all dead or rounded up by the Arcana Police Force. Addison was very likely now in a relationship with Ryan and according to Jocelyn, Michael would be passing the torch onto someone else to be the next Pokémon League Champion. At a time when he could return to the top and become a Champion, he was now reduced to struggling for his daily penance with Jocelyn breathing down his neck.
Though to be fair to her, Matthew preferred to have company with him. If he had been left alone, he fully expected to be in Klefki Prison or worse when his betrayal of the family had come to light. Jocelyn, however, had saw fit to rescue him from that fate and take him into a long exile to try and make a better person of him. Why? He couldn't fathom it. Perhaps she was intent on having him follow a path similar to the one his brother had taken. Or, perhaps Jocelyn had been asked to do this by Ryan. But why would Ryan want that? His brother's last words to him were of disowning him. And he knew that there was little love lost between the two. But it didn't matter to him in the long run. So long as he was able to prove one day that he was the superior trainer of the two, it didn't matter.
His team was slowly forming. Though Johto Pokémon weren't as powerful as those found in Arcana, he did already begin to grow his team from the single Charmander Professor Oak had given him. He now possessed a Charmander, a Magnemite and a Tauros, three fairly decent Pokémon with which he hoped to one day rebuild his once mighty Pokémon Team and lay claim to the throne of Johto as it's League Champion. The Current Champion, the Dragon Trainer Lance, held claim to both the crowns of Kanto and Johto, which meant that he might need to travel to both Kanto and Johto if it meant securing for himself enough power to dethrone Lance and take up a role as Champion. The only problem for him was that Jocelyn was not keen to let Matthew take on the Gym Leader Challenge in Johto. In both Ollivine City and Cianwood City, he had asked to be able to prove himself against their Gym Leaders, but was flatly denied that by his traveling partner. It only fueled more bitterness towards her than he had previously had.
Jocelyn, meanwhile, was soaking in the sights and sounds of the Johto Region. She had brought her charge with her to Ecruteak City to learn about the ancient myths of Johto, which included tales of three Sacred Beasts: Raikou, Entei and Suicune, who were said to possess as much power as the Mythical Pokémon that were under the control of Michael and his Elite Four friends. She had been fascinated with her Grandfather's research, especially after seeing the true accounts of it from his own words in the journals that Julia and her team had found. And now, free from the controlling will of the Syndicate, she could study any mythos she wanted to. And with many of Johto's mysteries still yet to be uncovered, she was determined to continue to her work until she reached a satisfactory conclusion.
Her own team was also beginning to take shape. Her Squirtle was now being supported by a Vulpix and a Cubone, in some kind of effort to keep her charge in check. Though she was sure he wouldn't try to run off on her, considering he had no where else to go, she wanted to be sure that she wasn't just going to be a friend to him. She was serving as the last chance he might ever have of redeeming himself and being able to return home to Arcana one day. And as her friends in the Kingston Family had taught her, anyone was capable of change. Even a wretch like her charge.
The two stopped in front of Ecruteak's fabled Burned Tower. While Jocelyn was in sheer awe of the structure, Matthew was decidedly unimpressed.
"Why keep a burned out building like this?" he asked carelessly. "It's an eyesore."
"The Burned Tower holds a storied history to the people of Johto" Jocelyn educated the boy.
"Then they really need to make some more history for themselves."
"It's said that the Sacred Beasts dwell somewhere within the Burned Tower" Jocelyn continued, ignoring Matt's ridicule. "Would you want to tear down a building if three immensely powerful Pokémon lived within it?"
Matt's eyes lit up at this. "All I heard was powerful Pokémon."
"Save your breath" she told him. "The Sacred Beasts will only appear before a trainer they deem is worthy."
"And how will we know if I'm worthy or not if we don't try?"
"Matt" Jocelyn said, as kindly as she could, "you're not worthy. You still think that being a good Pokémon trainer is about power and being the best. I would have imagined by now you'd realize that people like your brother and Michael had something different than you. There is more to being a good trainer than power."
Matthew, who would have once clenched his fists in anger and defiance, seemed defeated and lowered his head. "Ye-yeah. You're probably right. I think we should keep going then." He looked over towards the road south from the town. "What's up for us down there?"
She looked at Matthew, surprised that he seemed to be finally listening to her. "Well, there's Goldenrod City and the Ruins of Alph."
"Do you think you'd find anything interesting in those ruins?"
"Only one way to find out" Jocelyn told him, gesturing for him to head down the roads towards the next step on their journey towards redemption. Matthew took a deep breath and went down the road.
{Meanwhile}
Early in the morning at the Pokémon League HQ, Cameron wanders the halls and finds that the rooms that had previously been Mark and Lizzie's were now emptied out and ready for the new members of Ryan's Elite Four to take over. She sorrowfully realizes that she is only member of the Elite Four currently in the HQ, with her brother having set off already to recruit a new member of the Elite Four on Ryan's behalf. It was certainly going to be strange for her, to be the head of an Elite Four that was so inexperienced, or in Giselle's case, a bit erratic. Whoever Chris nominated for the Elite Four, she could only hope her brother would pick someone sensible and more of a mellow choice to replace Mark or Lizzie.
We really don't need anymore reckless wild cards, she thought to herself. Madeline would be perfect for this role. She's lowkey, low maintenance and above all, she's a strong and committed trainer. Then again, she is the only person who can run the Pokémon Gym in Magenta Grove. Before I worry about who the next member of The Elite Four is, I should help Ryan revamp the selection process for Gym Leaders. I'm sure there are plenty of committed trainers out there so it's not just all Kingstons running the show.
The main doors to the Pokémon League HQ opened and Cameron watched as Chris ushered in the newest members of the Elite Four. Giselle was the first to enter, holding a moving box that was full of what few possessions she actually owned as she looked around her new abode while she served underneath the next Champion. "Funny, I remember this place was a lot bigger ten years ago."
Cameron folded her arms. "I still don't know what dirt you have on Ryan that got you this position."
"The Champion trusts me" Giselle insisted. "So does the previous. He wouldn't have entrusted me with looking over the Champion personally if he didn't."
"That's my job" Cameron insisted. "Ryan is my cousin, so I'll take care of him."
"We can all look after Ryan" Chris assured both women. "He's going to need us, just like Mike did."
"Did you pick a fourth member to nominate?" Cameron asked.
"Ryan asked me to head out and start the recruiting process" Chris explained to his sister. "But, I only needed to ask one person now that Uncle Doug is ready to take back the Taghwan City Gym." He gestured for the last member of The Elite Four. Daniel Kingston walked inside and looked around.
"This place is awesome" he said excitedly.
"And Ryan approved of you picking Daniel?" Cameron asked Chris, folding her arms.
"We need strong trainers to replace Mark and Lizzie" Chris reasoned. "I'm sure Ryan won't have a problem with it."
"You didn't even ask him?" Cameron asked, sighing in frustration. So it begins...
"I sent him a message" Chris explained. "But he's probably seeing Mike and Julia off in Pocus Town, because he hasn't answered."
Giselle laughed. "Looks like the Elite Four isn't off to the best of starts in the new regime."
Daniel frowned. "Come on, you guys. I know Ryan would say yes."
"We need to hear it from him, first" Cameron told her cousin, before shooting her brother a glare. "And you need to understand that our job is to advise him, not go over his head. I made the mistake of crossing Mike before and it nearly blew up in our faces. Ryan needs to know that he can count on us to help him when he needs us."
"He already knows that" Chris replied.
Giselle looked at the six bedroom chambers in the League HQ and made her way towards one of the rooms. "Does it matter which room is which?"
"My bedroom is behind me" Cameron explained. "Chris's is the one opposite of mine. The rest are open to you both to choose from."
Giselle pushed the door open to one of the chambers and nodded. "Yup. I can get used to this. Beats the heck out of Solitary, that's for sure." She walked in with her small box and placed it on a mattress that had once belonged to Lizzie. As she made herself comfortable on her memory foam mattress, the door closed and left her be.
"I guess one of these rooms is going to be Ryan's?" Daniel asked.
"Mike only slept in the Champion's bedroom when we were doing Syndicate Raids" Chris told his cousin. "He wanted to sleep with Julia when he was Champion."
"Ryan will probably want to stay home in Parlor Town for the first part of his time as Champion" Cameron added. "So, you can use any of the remaining two rooms as your own. Danny."
"Cool" Daniel answered before taking up the room beside Cameron's and walking inside his own bedroom. He then quickly reemerged and nodded. "Yup. That one's mine." Daniel quickly departed back outside to go and collect his belongings from home and bring them there.
Cameron looked towards her brother. "You think Ryan is in Pocus Town, then?"
"He and Addison are the only ones who haven't said goodbye to them yet" Chris answered. "Where else could they be?"
{Meanwhile}
Ryan was woken up by a frantic banging on his bedroom door. He turned over and put the pillow over his head, hoping the sound would stop. When it didn't, he let out a quiet moan. "Come on, Mom. Give me five more minutes."
"RYAN!" Addison's voice rang out on the other side of his door. "You overslept! You're gonna miss Julia and Mike!"
Ryan shot out of his bed and quickly threw an outfit together, not caring if it matched or not. The only things he made sure to keep track of were his emerald-colored bandanna and his belt to hold up his pants and keep his Pokémon affixed to them. He then ripped his door open and ran right past Addison and down the staircase in his house, falling down the last step and landing face first on the floor. Not checking to see if he was okay, Ryan hurriedly raced out of his front door and down the quiet roads of Parlor Town.
How could I have slept in? I am such an idiot! If I miss seeing them off, I'm never going to forgive myself! He saw Tommy playing with his Pokémon in the front lawn of the Queensbury house, but did not slow down to hear if Tommy noticed him. He was frantically rushing on foot towards the Ranch, hoping he could see the two off before Michael and Julia left. But he skidded to a stop when he saw inside the windows of the Ranch that the home was already packed up and filled with only a few boxes. He furiously pounded on the ground.
"I'm too late! I'm too late!" He noticed a shadow flying over his head and landing nearby, but it didn't matter to him. He had let his cousin and his wife down. They were already on their way to Kalos and he had missed them.
"Ryan?" Addison called to him as she climbed off of her Altaria. "What are you doing?"
"We're too late, Addy" Ryan answered sadly. "We missed them!"
"What are you talking about?"
"They're gone" Ryan cried out. "We were too late."
"Ryan, they're on their way to Pocus Town, now!" Addison corrected him.
Ryan leaped to his feet and was about to rush down the road, but Addison caught his wrist. "What are you doing? Let go!"
"Ryan!"
"Addy, if we don't-"
"Ryan!"
"Addy, why are you-"
"RYAN!" Addison snapped.
"What?" Addison pulled Ryan towards her and planted a kiss on her boyfriend to calm him down. After they pulled apart, Ryan took a deep breath. "Thanks, Addy. I needed that. You're the best."
"Did you forget we have Flying Pokémon?" Addison asked him.
Ryan laughed at his own stupidity. "To be fair, I've only been up for a few minutes."
Addison led Ryan over to her Altaria and climbed atop her Dragon Pokémon's back and pulled him up behind her. Ryan wrapped his arms around Addison's waist, causing the girl to blush. "Hold on, Ry. We'll catch them if I have anything to say about it." The two then took off on the back of Addison's Altaria and flew high in the skies above the rest of Arcana. The two spotted the familiar sight of Sailor Ralph's boat in harbor and knew that he would be the one to be ferrying their friends to Kalos. Addison piloted her Pokémon down by the docks and then recalled her Altaria.
The two rushed towards the docks, spying their idols and dearest friends loading the last of their belongings onto Ralph's boat. Julia paused when she spotted the two and waved to them. She tapped her husband on the shoulder and Michael turned around and saw them, catching a smile on his face as they did. Ryan and Addison hurried toward them and skidded to a stop just in front of Julia.
"What are you two in a rush for?" Julia asked.
"We didn't want to miss you guys" Addison explained.
"You didn't have to come out all the way here for us" she told them.
"Of course we did" Ryan insisted. "You're family, Julia."
Michael came up to his wife's side. "Hey there, Champion. Addy."
"I'm just glad we got to see you guys before you went" Addison admitted, clutching at her arm. "I don't know what I would do if we missed you."
"You made it" Julia assured her. "That's what matters."
"The tides are on me side" Ralph called from the helm. "We'll be departing in a few minutes. Best be saying yer goodbyes, Kingstons."
Julia looked back towards Ralph. "Thank you, Ralph. Just give us a minute." She looked down on her two proteges and beamed. "You two have made me the proudest Pokémon Professor out there. You've learned so much since we sent you off on your journey. It wasn't easy, on any of us. But after seeing what you two were capable of doing, I can safely say Arcana is going to be in good hands." She looked towards Addison. "Make sure you keep your boyfriend up to date with all the Pokémon Types and changes. Becoming Champion is one thing. Holding it is an entirely different thing."
"You know it, Professor" Addison promised.
"And make sure you make Piper work for her Queen of Arcana title next year" Julia asked of the young girl.
"Of course, Professor. I still want to become the Queen myself, one day."
Julia smiled and took the girl into a warm embrace. "Take care of yourselves, okay?"
"So, do what I've been doing my entire life?" Addison joked.
"Atta girl" Julia smiled as she pulled apart before looking towards Ryan. She put her hand on the boy's face. "Oh, Ryan. I am so proud of you. You've grown up so much since you guys left here. And I know there were moments where I the only light I had left to look forward to was you. You kept my spirits up in my darkest moments. And I can safely say that you are going to make us more proud each and every day you're Champion. Take care of Addison, too."
Ryan nodded, doing his best not to cry in front of her. "I'm gonna miss you, Julia."
She pointed to the boy's heart. "You keep us in there, and you'll always have us with you. Remember that."
Ryan flung his arms around her. "I love you, Julia."
Nearing to tears herself, Julia let out a soft laugh. "Oh, I love you too, Ryan." She kissed his cheek before stepping back so Michael could address the duo himself. Ryan and Addison stood at attention as their shared hero stood over them.
For a long moment, Michael was silent, as if trying to find the right words to say to them. He sighed before he decided to just wing it. "Julia said it best. You two have done things that I would never have thought possible before. You guys saved my life. And I will forever be indebted to you two." He knelt in front of Addison. "Addy, whenever I look at you, I see so much of your mother in you. I know you're gonna make her proud, if you haven't already. And the day you win your first Queen of Arcana Contest, I want you to let us know, so that I can do the same thing I did for your Mom."
"What did you do for her?" Addison asked.
Michael looked down at his knees. "Kneel before a Queen."
"Oh, Michael!" Addison cried, running towards him and hugging him tightly. "I'll make you proud and win it."
Michael laughed. "Addy, you've already done that. Please, take care of Ryan for me."
She nodded before Michael let go of her. She took a deep breath and looked to Ryan, who stepped up towards his cousin.
"Mike..." Ryan said softly.
"Don't let anyone tell you that you don't deserve to be Champion, Ryan" Michael told him. "You've earned it more than any Champion I've seen in my lifetime. More than Grandpa, Giselle and Me. And I know, without a shadow of a doubt, you are going to be the best of us." He let out a weak smile. "I would have been lost to the Fury forever if it weren't for you. You reached out into the deepest abyss and saved all of us."
"I only did it because of what you taught me, Mike" Ryan admitted.
Michael shook his head. "You found your own strength. Strength to protect the people that you love. And when they fall into darkness, you surround them with your light to keep them from sinking further." He chuckled sadly. "You and your brother used to always tell me that I was your hero. Well, let me tell you something, Ryan. You're mine."
Ryan put his head into his cousin's chest. "Do you really have to go?"
"Yes, but it won't be forever, kid. One day, we'll come back." Michael put his hand on the boy's head. "I want a rematch, after all."
Ryan laughed, though it was muffled in his cousin's shirt. "You'll get one."
Michael put his arms around the boy. "Don't ever forget, Ryan. I'm always with you, just like you're always with me."
"I'm gonna miss you, Mike. More than anything else."
"Oh, Ryan" Addison said softly.
"Don't worry, Champ" Michael promised. "There's an old saying that Grandpa used to tell us, whenever we used to go visit him." Michael cleared his throat. "Though goodbye may seem like forever and farewell may feel like the end, our hearts will be connected, until we meet again."
Ryan wiped away his tears. "Grandpa really said that?"
Michael nodded. "No one ever wanted to leave Grandpa's side. That's how much he meant to us." Michael rose back to his feet. "If it helps you feel better, think of us when you say it, instead. That way, no land or sea will be enough to keep us apart."
Ryan took a deep breath. "Until we meet again." He gave his cousin a proper salute.
Michael bowed before him and answered his salute with one of his own. "Until we meet again, Champion..." With that, Michael made his way back to his bride's side and swept Julia off her feet and climbed up the plank onto Ralph's ship. When they were on the boat, Ralph's Machokes pulled up the plank back onto the boat.
Ryan watched on as Ralph shouted orders to his sailor Pokémon, feeling Addison take his hand and hold it. He gave Addison's hand a tender squeeze as they observed Ralph's ship making it's final preparations for sailing to the Kalos Region.
"Unfurl the sails!" Ralph called to his Machokes. "Make ready to break out! Hoist anchor!" After one last moment of additional preparation, Ralph's ship set sail. Michael and Julia made their way back to the bow of the boat and waved to Ryan and Addison as they sailed off to the next chapter of their lives.
As the ship finally vanished from sight, Ryan took a deep breath and turned to Addison. "Are you gonna be okay, Addy?"
Addison sniffled, but nodded. "I think I will be. You?"
"I will be" Ryan promised her. "After all, it's like they're still here."
Addison nodded. "That is true. So long as we hold onto them in our hearts, they won't seem so far away."
Ryan looked out onto the open seas. "I hope they enjoy themselves. They deserve it." He looked towards Addison. "Well, they've gone to where they belong. Let's get back to where we belong."
"We have a whole offseason to enjoy ourselves" Addison said as the couple departed from the wharf and made it back into Pocus Town. "What should we do first?"
Ryan held Addison close as he looked out towards the path that led to Parlor Town. "I think today's a good day for the beach."
"And that" Addison affirmed, "is a wonderful idea, Ryan Kingston."
Ryan called out Marahute and quickly Mega Evolved her. He climbed on top of her back and held out his hand to Addison. "Come on, Addy. Let's go for a ride."
Addison eagerly took his hand and let Ryan pull her up behind him. As Ryan had done with her, she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Let's see what the future holds for us." With that, Marahute flew the two young heroes off towards their future,
{Meanwhile}
With the advent of the Syndicate's defeat, the base at Mt. Heatmor was left to the mercy of the molten lava. And the lava was not feeling quite merciful. It ripped through and devastated most of the Syndicate Lair, and any of the remnants of it's former members belongings or lives. The volcano was seemingly devouring the last known traces of the shadowy organization's existence. But because of the size of the base, the lava was not seemingly approaching the former Beach Head where the Kingstons and their allies had made their stand against the enemy of Arcana. The warm sands were still only touched by the seas itself.
The seas and one other. A person. A man feebly crawled out of the water, coughing violently as if he had just swam a marathon. The figure collapsed onto the sands, breathing heavily as he did. But while he did this, his mental faculties seemed to be lost to him. For a brief moment, he could not remember who he was or what his life had been like before this. The only thought in his head was that he was confused as to why he was alive. But after a moment of recovering his breath, he began to remember in bits and pieces. He remembered sapphire eyes looming in the darkness. He recounted a woman who once had long black hair and wore goggles. And in her possession, was a star that could grant wishes. But the star itself, was a Pokémon. And he strongly desired to possess this being to make himself virtually invincible.
Hunter turned over onto his back and looked up at the smog covered skies above him. I shouldn't be alive, right now. I fell. After they made my Pokémon abandon me, I fell from my Dragon. But I'm not dead. Why? How?
"You seem confused" a woman's voice called to him. Hunter looked and saw a woman with lavender-colored hair standing over him as he rested.
"I died" Hunter recalled. "I'm not supposed to be alive."
"You seem to be not be able to comprehend power, for one who sought so readily to control it" she responded bluntly.
Hunter turned over to study the woman more carefully. He knew her, too. She had been an accomplice of his. She fancied herself a telepath, as if anyone still believed in that. "Courtney?"
"In the flesh" Courtney answered. "I also managed to escape death. I didn't know why at first either, but now I do."
"You failed to stop the Kingstons, too?"
"Michael Kingston used the Crimson Fury to obliterate me" she explained. "His power was incomprehensible. But so too is that of The Grand Master."
Hunter suddenly remembered the mark that he had allowed The Grand Master to place on his forehead and reached for it. It was still there. "That Singularity thing, right?"
"The Grand Master has been defeated" Courtney warned him. "Imprisoned in a Master Ball by Ryan Kingston."
"The Grand Master let that twerp beat him?" Hunter asked, laughing derisively. "He wasn't so 'Grand' after all."
Courtney giggled. "Never underestimate the powers of The Grand Master. He may not be able to enact his plans personally, but he can through us. And he is far from finished with us. Hence, why we're still alive." Courtney took a deep breath and closed her eyes. For a moment, she did not move. But then she jerked back to life. Her eyes now shined in a Sapphire color. But her voice was no longer her own.
"I am far from beaten, Hunter" The Grand Master spoke through Courtney.
Hunter could not believe it. Maybe there is something to this whole telepathy thing. "Grand Master?"
"We have been dealt a blow. But not one we can't ever recover from. Though I am sealed within a Master Ball, my mind continues to work. I cannot yet discern where I am being held, but I can assure you that I am still in Arcana. That will be the undoing of the Kingston line."
Hunter simply stared at Courtney, who was now fully possessed by The Grand Master. "This is nuts."
"The Kingstons are growing weaker" The Grand Master continued, speaking through his puppet. "Michael Kingston and his wife Julia Pines have left for Kalos. Your friends Mark and Lizzie have departed for their homes as well. Arcana is under the watchful eyes of Ryan Kingston and Michael's two cousins, Christopher and Cameron."
"His two stooges" Hunter scowled.
"We will regain our power, Hunter. But for the time being, we cannot remain in Arcana."
"Then what can we do?"
"Courtney will remain here, keeping a watchful eye out for any critical weaknesses we might be able to use against our enemies. But I have need of your expertise regarding Legendary and Mythical Pokémon." Using Courtney as a puppet, he pointed towards Hunter. "Seek out the Legends of Sinnoh, Unova, Galar and Alola. I already have my eyes fixated on one who can assist us in Johto and another useful pawn in place elsewhere. But I task you with uncovering the truth about an ancient world written about in fables and stories."
"What do you mean?"
"The Crimson Fury is just another in a series of anomalies that have been unfolding across the world" The Grand Master explained through Courtney. "The Fury. The Distortion World. Shadow Pokémon. And many others. All of which had to have originated somewhere and somehow. All of the Legends of our world are connected, Hunter. Not just the ones that you have uncovered. But many more that still lie in wait, for one to seek them out. Space, time, life, death, light, darkness. It all had to have originated somewhere. And if we are to achieve my goals of eradicating life and rebuilding from the ground up, we must find a way to harness these powers for ourselves. And in my meditation, it all came to me. A world unlike anything I've ever seen. A world where reality can be altered at will. A world where anything is possible. Such a place like that warrants exploration, doesn't it?"
"I suppose it would" Hunter agreed. "To have enough power to get whatever we wanted..."
"And it can all be ours, so long as we seek it and find it. Seek out the myths of the world, Hunter. And when you have succeeded, we shall find this bountiful place and achieve all of our goals. Courtney will achieve mental capabilities beyond those of a mortal woman. You will have the Mythical Pokémon at your beck and call. And I will have the power to obliterate life on this planet, the likes of which hasn't been seen since the prehistoric age. It will all be open to us, in this new world."
"What world is this?" Hunter asked.
Courtney looked at Hunter with a foreboding glare and answered in her own voice. "The Realm of Dreams."