As the sapphire eyes loomed above the five remaining in the room, Michael struggled to stand on his feet by himself. Ryan helped his cousin stand while also comforting Addison, who was absolutely horrified for some reason about the voice of this mysterious final Syndicate ally. Julia and Giselle stood behind the trio, too confused about this turn of events to take a stand.
"Show yourself!" Michael demanded.
Would you believe your own eyes if I indeed showed myself to you?
"You're this Grand Master Jocelyn warned us about, aren't you?" Ryan guessed.
I am indeed that Grand Master. How I have longed to reveal myself to the family of James Kingston. I would have preferred to remain in my solace, but it would appear my worthless lackeys required a firm hand to lead them.
"Show yourself now!" Michael ordered.
Do you really believe you are in a position to be making demands, Michael? Especially when you're still so vulnerable to your own emotions?
"I don't think we should be egging him on" Addison told the boys. "He's really powerful."
"So powerful that he chooses to hide himself in shadows?" Ryan asked.
Clever words, boy. Believing you could goad me out into some kind of attack. But I have evolved beyond your meager comprehensions of the world. I fear no one and nothing. If you still wish to see me, than I believe I cannot delay it any longer.
The roof above Elezar's chambers began to open and reveal the blood-colored moon above them and slowly began to bathe the entire chamber in it's sinister glow. Addison and Michael both recoiled at being in the direct presence of the Crimson Moon, but recovered with Ryan's aid. The red light continued to shine on the chamber until it finally revealed the form of the Grand Master. He was no human at all, but a Pokémon. The Pokémon was levitating in the air in a bipedal form with a long purple tail, two blunt horns atop his head, three stubby fingers and the sapphire eyes it had used soon took on a more violet tint to them. He was more human looking than any Pokémon that the group had ever seen, but on his face was the look of one who detested humans with a burning passion.
"The Grand Master is a Pokémon?" Julia asked.
Rhaegar growled at the new Pokémon while Michael grunted at the sight of it. "Why on earth would a Pokémon have such ambitions for conquest?"
You truly are a fool, Michael. The Pokémon communicated without moving it's mouth, speaking to the group telepathically. If conquest was my ambition, why would I have needed that wretched fool Elezar and his plans? No, I have much grander visions for the world. Visions your small minds could not possibly comprehend.
"I've never seen a Pokémon like that before" Giselle remarked. "What is it?"
Michael gasped. "The experiment in Kanto. The failed Gene Splicing. You were the product those scientists created!"
Indeed. I was given life by humans, abominable beasts who seek to disrupt nature for their own cruel ambitions. Humans who saw fit to run tests and experiments on me. Naturally, I destroyed them. No human should ever dare to claim lordship over a being like me. I am the product of both Pokémon DNA and Human tampering with nature.
"What do you call yourself?" Ryan asked.
I was given many names throughout my life. A digitized codename, Weapon Y, A Corporeal Friend, The Grand Master and by a far more egregious slave name that humans forced upon me. Mewtwo.
"The clone of Mew" Julia spoke softly.
I was created from the DNA of the Mythical Pokémon known as Mew, a foolish little creature who saw fit to travel alongside Mark of Kanto, as if you treat your Pokémon as equals. I have seen enough to know you all treat them like slaves and pets. And I am sick of seeing my brethren suffer at your hands.
"We don't treat them as slaves" Ryan declared. "I treat my Pokémon like my friends."
Do not speak for others when you speak only of yourself, Ryan Kingston. If you need examples of those who mistreated their Pokémon, look no further than the Syndicate formed by Elezar Aced. Pokémon were nothing if not tools for their ambitions. Some had potential, but most were inept and weak, too foolish to see the potential in their slaves. Tell me, heroes of the Kingston Family. Do you plan to punish those who have abused their Pokémon, such as Victor, Nadine and all the other weak fools I was forced to deal with?
"Wait' Giselle thought aloud, "if you detested the Syndicate so much, why did you let it form?"
All that I have spoken to have had roles to play in my true purpose. Elezar, Cassius, Claude, Courtney, Hunter, even you, Giselle Odelia. And my goal for the Syndicate was for them to accomplish three things in their lifetime. The first was to rid myself of that accursed James Kingston, who interfered with my plans once and would do it again if he was still alive to this day.
"James Kingston cared about his Pokémon" Addison insisted. "He loved them as much as he loved his own children!"
Did he? I must have missed the part when he helped his Pokémon escape to a safer part of the world when Mt. Heatmor erupted fifteen years ago. He protected his family, while he and his Pokémon died.
"But that's not-"
The Grand Master waved his hand towards her and nearly tossed her aside, but Ryan clung onto Addison desperately until she landed safely in on the ground beside him. That is enough of that, slave. The second task was to build an army that would be under the influence of The Crimson Fury for longer than it lasted. I had originally envisioned creating genetically perfect Pokémon, but that plan soon proved too risky to accomplish. But any subject to the Crimson Moon would be the perfect specimen to complete my goals. Beings motivated by primal instincts of destruction and doom.
"But you failed" Ryan told The Grand Master. "We destroyed the Crimson Stones and Cassius's lab is in ruins right now. We're not going to let ourselves hurt each other anymore! And definitely not for the likes of you!"
You are indeed correct. You did destroy many of the Crimson Stones that could have been used to brand thousands more into my cause. And without Cassius, I cannot possibly hope to replicate his schematics and formulas...unless of course, you were speaking to the one who gave him the ideas in the first place.
"What?" Michael gasped.
Mewtwo closed his eyes and tilted his head towards the Crimson Moon. The Syndicate served it's purpose to act as a useful set of pawns to send out against you and keep you occupied. All of them had their own ambitions and desires. Some had use, but in the end, it appears not as much as I would have imagined. I thank all for disposing of them, save for Elezar and Matthew. Because thanks to the particular branding work done on these subjects, I found a way to circumvent my need for such trivial followers. Surely, when you battled Hunter and Courtney, you might have noticed some alterations I made to them?
Ryan recalled Courtney had been taken over by some kind of malevolent being in their battle. "The Singularity?"
Courtney and Hunter were given the distinction of being the first to willingly be granted a part of my mind inside of them. But I gave them too much free will, hence why you disposed of them so readily. I've come to the conclusion that if I give my pawns too much freedom, they will never truly be mine. I no longer need to fear such insurrection from those who have been branded. Thanks to Cassius, now all who bear the Crimson Brand are now also a part of my mind. The Singularity. One entity, one mind, one complete world.
"And just how did you accomplish this?" Julia asked.
Preying on vulnerabilities, Professor. Insecurities, doubts and fears. Allowing them to believe that they could overcomes these fears by submission of the mind. Surely Miss Tenton recalls when our minds first met, in the Trickton Library.
"That was you?" Addison cried out. "You've been the one haunting my dreams!"
Ryan stepped in front of Addison. "It doesn't matter what you've been telling these guys. They aren't your slaves anymore than Pokémon are ours. We're all friends and family to one another. And there's no power on earth strong enough to break the bonds we have. So you should just give up now!"
The bonds you share between yourselves and your Pokémon is both your greatest asset and your greatest weakness. And I have you five in front of me right now to thank for it. The feelings of betrayal and broken hearts, of fear of loss and of fear of the unknown. You have all made my plans for the world too perfect to even fathom for myself.
"What was the third goal of the Syndicate?" Giselle asked.
Mass genocide.
This caught all five of them by surprise. Addison gasped, Julia recoiled in shock, Ryan was deeply disturbed by the idea, Giselle and Michael simply glared at Mewtwo after that direct declaration.
Surely you didn't think that I would hold the same ambitions of conquest that Elezar and the others have? Not when I was subjected to the worst humanity has to offer. No. In order for the world to understand the pain it has wrought on me, it must feel the pain of being betrayed by your creators, the suffering of losing what you cared for and the heartache of realizing that there is no returning to the life you once knew. It will begin in Arcana and will spread to the rest of the world. Human and Pokémon alike will destroy each other. Finally, when the decadent and worthless humans are gone, the true masters of the earth will rise and recreate the world in our glorious image.
"That plan will never work, Mewtwo" Julia told the enemy. "The Crimson Fury isn't strong enough to prevent us from reaching the ones we love."
And your love isn't strong enough to break them from my control. Allow me to demonstrate. Mewtwo waved his hand and suddenly Michael and Rhaegar flailed about in pain. The Dragonite rolled around on the floor, roaring in agony, while Michael clutched at his head.
"Get out of my head!" he cried.
"Michael!" Julia cried as she raced over to him. "Don't give into it!"
He is mine, Professor Pines. Now and forever!
Michael looked at the group one last time and got out one final word to them. "Run." With that, his entire body was engulfed in the power of The Crimson Fury. He let out a scream of immense pain before he landed in front of Mewtwo and snickered at the group. In the voices of both The Grand Master and himself, he addressed them. "Like that. Gone. Smothered by the rage and pain you delivered to him!"
Giselle pulled Julia out of the way as Rhaegar landed in front of him and bellowed, showing signs that an attack was imminent.
Michael laughed under Mewtwo's influence. "Come now, wouldn't you all like to become a part of the Singularity?"
"Let Michael go now!" Addison demanded. "This isn't a game. People's lives are at stake!"
Why should you fear it, Addison? After all, you are part of the Singularity yourself already. With another wave of his hand, Addison now doubled over, screaming as the Grand Master once more forced The Crimson Fury to take control of her mind.
"ADDY!" Ryan cried out.
"Run, Ryan!" she pleaded. "Save yourself!" Before she could say anymore, her eyes reverted back to their crimson form and she walked over towards Michael and laughed in the same mixed voices of herself and Mewtwo. "The Crimson Fury and the Singularity. It's almost too good to be true."
"Let them go this instant!" Julia demanded.
If you will not be made one with the Singularity, you will be destroyed.
Giselle stepped up and called out her Haxorus. "We don't have a choice, you guys. We have to fight."
"I'm not fighting Michael or Addison" Julia insisted.
"Isn't that a pity" Mewtwo's voice echoed out of Addison's mouth. "Because we'll be fighting you."
"You're not Addison or Mike!" Ryan insisted.
"Then what's the problem?" the voice echoed out of Michael. "Fight us!"
Ryan reluctantly called out his Sandslash to come onto the defensive for them, while Julia sent out her Sylveon. The trio was now up against a supped up Dragonite and Addison's newly called out Electabuzz, who was also under the influence of The Crimson Fury. Rhaegar sent a Dragon Pulse directly at Terra, but Julia's Sylveon used her ribbons to protect the Sandslash from he blast. When the Electabuzz launched a Thunderbolt at the Sylveon, Terra leaped in front of it and absorbed the blast. As Rhaegar prepared to attack once more, Giselle's Haxorus leaped in front of them and the two Dragons fought each other, with the Haxorus doing it's best to protect her trainer and the others.
Resistance is futile.
The doors of the chamber burst open and Ryan thought he could hear the voice of Cameron leading a courageous charge to the rescue. His hopes were dashed when she was instead leading a retreat of the few of their teammates remaining behind. She led herself, Tommy, Dylan, Amber, Corey, Madeline, Billy, Renee, Tori, Greg, Warren Tenton, Byron and his mother away from the raging crowd of Crimson Branded Soldiers and their Pokémon. She came to a halt when she saw the three under assault from the attacking Michael and Addison.
"Ah" she remarked. "Well, we're dead."
Warren looked past her at his daughter. "Addy." He rushed over to her, but was nearly blasted back by the Electabuzz in front of her. "What's gotten into you?"
"I'm one with the Singularity, Father" Addison called in a twisted voice. "Perhaps you would like to join us."
"The what?" he asked.
Cameron looked up towards Mewtwo. "And what is that?"
"Long story short" Giselle told the two. "That thing is The Grand Master and he has control over everyone and everything that's trying to kill us. Anything else?"
"Elezar?" Billy asked.
"Dead" Julia answered as her Sylveon continued to absorb blows from Rhaegar's Dragon Attacks.
"Addy" Tommy cried out when he saw the twisted look on her face.
"That's not Addy" Ryan told the boy. "We've got to get her back, somehow."
Your bonds will be broken, your relationships scattered across the wind and your precious friendships erased from existence. There can be no room in my world for your foolishness. The first to fall from my order will be Arcana's wretched Pokémon League, starting with the Kingston Family and their friends. Mewtwo let out a chuckle as he sat in the shadows. I shall enjoy watching you suffer. Mewtwo relaxed back as his slaves battled his foes, knowing all too well that victory was only moments away.
The Kingstons fought desperately against their endless army of attackers and their Pokémon, doing their hardest to not cause any harm. But the sheer power of the Crimson Branded Trainers and their Pokémon they held such strong bonds with was overwhelming. Eventually, the fighters were backed into a circle, doing their best to protect the others from attacks and themselves. Ryan even watched as his mother's Clefable used a powerful Moonblast to push Rhaegar back, only to be struck hard by a Sludge attack coming from another trainer's Garbodor. None of the Kingstons were holding back, but their attacks were doing minimal damage to the Pokémon under the influence of the Crimson Moon. Some of the trainers could even feel their own resolve fading.
"We have to keep fighting" Billy encouraged the group. "But-"
"We're running our of options here" Byron said as his Arcanine used a Flare Blitz to overwhelm a few attacking Bug Pokémon, only to be forced back by a Slowbro using a Hydro Pump. "There's too many of them."
"Who's bright idea was it to let Uncle Jeice lead the rest of the family away?" Madeline grumbled as her Mr. Mime used a powerful Light Screen to protect the entire group's Pokémon. "We could have used the help."
"They weren't going to be of much help" Cameron insisted. "They were all exhausted." She watched as her Lucario fended off as many Pokémon as he could with several powerful Force Palms, but they weren't enough to break through for the others.
"I don't suppose an organized retreat is in the cards?" Greg opined. "You know, live to fight another day?"
"I'm not leaving this place without Addy" Ryan declared.
His mother upbraided him. "Ryan, honestly, now is not the time to-"
"I'm not leaving without my daughter" Warren insisted, siding with Ryan. 'We don't leave anyone behind!"
"And I won't be leaving Michael behind again!" Julia hissed as her Sylveon fired a Moonblast at an attacking Scrafty.
"Then somebody has to come up with an idea of some kind" Tori snapped as her Vileplume tumbled backwards from a horrifically strong Flame Burst from a Chandelure of one of the trainers under the influence of the Crimson Fury. "We can't keep things up like this."
"I'm going to try and make a breakthrough" Cameron declared. "Everyone get ready to move."
"Not by yourself" Renee insisted. "We'll help."
"Splitting up is not going to help" Julia cautioned. "We need to think of something else."
"And fast" Madeline added as her Mr. Mime was beginning to fatigue from all of the constant battling.
Dylan's Zangoose was flung backwards by an attacking Machoke, who was in turn sent backwards by Terra's powerful Crush Claw attack. Dylan looked back over towards Ryan. "Thanks again, Ryan."
"You can thank me after we've won" Ryan told his friend.
"I like your optimism" Amber told him, "but I don't think we're getting out of this one, unfortunately." She looked to Corey and slapped him in the head. "Why don't you come up with some idea of helping us break them out of it."
"Do you think I'm a rocket scientist?" Corey argued. "I don't know how any of this stuff works."
"Do we really need to argue about this now?" Cameron snapped at the ArcResistance team.
"I agree with Speck" Giselle said as her Haxorus took a blow to the stomach from a Primeape. "We're already fighting one side, we don't need to be fighting one another."
"Can you stop calling me that?"
Byron's Arcanine was struck hard by a Stone Edge and was down to his last legs. "Seriously, guys. If someone's got any plan, we could sure use it."
Tommy looked over towards Ryan. "Do you have anything?"
Ryan shook his head. "I usually think of something, but right now, I'm too worried about Addy and Mike to."
Keep struggling, you fools. I'm sure it will all be worthwhile in the end.
Ryan looked from Addison to Michael, with both of them completely under the control of the Crimson Fury. He didn't want to lose either of them, but it was becoming increasingly clear that this type of war of attrition wasn't doing them any favors. They needed some stroke of luck to be able to stop Mewtwo. But how does one stop a ruthlessly strong being like that at all? He had all of these people at his mercy and was content to put his foot down on their throats. He could sit this entire fight out while they wriggled in his grasp like bait on a fishing line. His Sandslash looked up to him, clearly showing signs of wear. This was not going to end well at all for them. Ryan reached into his pocket for Terra's Poké Ball, but then found something else in his pocket. His eyes lit up. This would be the only chance they had. But with all of the chaos on the battlefield, he couldn't enact this final bold call of his. He needed to create a diversion. He gulped when he realized there was only one he could make. He reached into his other pocket and recalled his Sandslash, prompting Julia to eye him worriedly.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
Ryan walked in front of his friends. "Mewtwo! I mean. Grand Master!"
The Pokémon eyed him curiously. What do you want, boy?
"I've come to a realization" Ryan said sadly. "There's no way we can beat you."
This stopped everyone from fighting. The Branded Soldiers paused at Mewtwo's command, but the Kingstons were stunned at Ryan's actions. They all looked at him as if the boy had finally gone crazy.
"Ryan?" Tori gasped.
"He's gone nuts" Billy insisted.
"Ryan, this isn't funny" Julia told him, but Ryan remained fixated on Mewtwo.
You have finally come to the realization that fighting me is futile? How interesting. Perhaps there is sense in that brain of yours after all, Ryan. Because of your boldness, boy, I will let you decide how best for you to perish. Know this, boy. There are no reinforcements coming your way, boy. You cannot delay it forever.
"I don't think I want to die" Ryan told the former Grand Master. "I-I want to join you."
"WHAT?" Alison cried out, needing to be held back from going nuts on her son by Julia and Greg. "RYAN JAMES KINGSTON!"
You want...to join me? How so?
Ryan looked towards the entranced figures of Michael and Addison and sighed. "I can't bring myself to fight Mike or Addy anymore. I just can't do it. Mike's been a big brother to me all of my life. And I promised myself I'd help him win Julia back at all costs. I can't do that when we're fighting as enemies."
"Ryan" Julia said sadly.
"And Addy" Ryan continued, "well, she's my best friend. And I promised I'd protect her from all dangers. How can I say I'm protecting her if I'm the one attacking her? And-." He gulped as he knew Mr. Tenton was within earshot. "And because I'm in love with her. I refuse to fight her for another minute. I fought her once when she was Matthew's pawn, but I won't do it again." He looked up towards Mewtwo, knowing all too well that a single misplaced glance or expression would doom his friends and loved ones, including Michael and Addison. "That's why I want you to do the same thing to me that you did to them. I want you to brand me."
Alison's jaw dropped. "No! I forbid it!"
"Ryan" Addison's father responded in disbelief. "You can't."
"Ryan, what are you doing?" Cameron snarled.
Mewtwo studied the boy for a moment. You wish to be branded? I've only met one other person who eagerly desired it, but she seemed a little crazed. You, on the other hand, have conviction behind your words. You truly desire to be among your brother and your love. Hmph. Humans and your emotions.
Ryan kept his focus on The Grand Master. "I won't be fighting them anymore. I just can't bring myself to do it. They mean too much to me."
"Ryan" Dylan remarked angrily. "You know what? Fine! Go! See if we care!" Ryan looked back at him and realized he was the only one who knew what his plan was, but was putting up the façade to fool Mewtwo. "Picking a girl over your friends and family. Maybe you aren't as good a trainer as I thought."
"DYLAN!" Amber shouted. "Have you lost your mind?"
Mewtwo waved his hand over the group. SILENCE! The Pokémon then looked down at Ryan one last time. You would willingly give up your friends and family, a life of freedom, all for the Champion and Miss Tenton?
Ryan nodded, clutching something small and minuscule in his hand. "Absolutely." He could feel his body being levitated in front of Mewtwo. While he guessed that The Grand Master was capable of probing his mind, he knew that he needed to keep his thoughts off his plan at all costs. "I won't fight them any longer. But if you promise they'll be okay, I will fight for you."
"RYAN!" the entire family cried out in unison.
Mewtwo tried to sense his thoughts, but with all of the control he was exerting over the Crimson Branded Trainers, he could not fully delve into his subject's mind. Despite this, Mewtwo scoffed at Ryan's naivete. Very well, if that is your wish, boy. Then I shall grant it as a token of my appreciation for a Kingston with brains. Allow me a moment.
Alison was inconsolable. "Not my baby! PLEASE!"
Silence, woman!
"Mom" Ryan called out to his mother. "It's going to be okay. I'll be with Mike and Addy."
"No!" she wept crazily as Tori and Cameron tried to console her. When the last of the brands Cassius had stored away was brought to the floor, she collapsed into the arms of Tori.
Mewtwo lowered the brand towards Rhaegar, who while still under the influence of the Crimson Fury, gladly torched the Brand to life. The brand heated up until it was scorching hot and Mewtwo raised it up towards Ryan's arm. The Pokémon closed its eyes. So shall it be. He moved the Brand towards Ryan's arm and pierced it. Ryan could not tell if his mother's scream was louder or his own as the brand scorched him under the direct influence of The Crimson Fury.
You will soon be one of us, The Grand Master assured him. One of the Singularity.
"NO!" Cameron cried as she sent her Lucario up to try and rescue Ryan, but Mewtwo flung him aside.
Ryan could feel his insides changing. His mind was no longer just his own. There was a newfound anger there. As he began to lose all control of his mind and body, Ryan kept his last thoughts on the final stage of his plan. His vision became blurry and his heartrate began to increase dramatically. As his breathing increased, his muscles felt stronger and he could feel as if even his Pokémon inside their Poké Balls could feel it, he kept all of his thoughts on that last hope for his friends and family. And to his amazement, Mewtwo never once thought of it.
The Grand Master laughed coldly as Ryan became another cog in the mind of the Singularity. Welcome to the Singularity, Ryan Kingston. The bond that you share with your Pokémon will greatly help in my conquest.
Ryan could feel his vocal chords and muscles moving without him. "I-am-honored-Master" he said.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" Alison screamed, her eyes streaming with tears.
Ryan knew he could lose his control at any second and decided it was now or never. "Grand-Master. I-have-one-question, please."
Mewtwo nodded. Very well. State it.
Ryan made a wry glance at him. "Does the Singularity work in a Master Ball?" He used his last bit of controlled strength to open the Master Ball prototype and drop it at Mewtwo's feet.
WHAT? Mewtwo watched as the Master Ball opened and began to feel it's pull. NO! NO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Mewtwo vanished into the Master Ball and his grip on Ryan ended. The scalding Brand fell from the air as well and shattered upon impact with the ground.
Ryan grinned to himself as Mewtwo was sealed within Master Ball and closed his eyes as he embraced whatever future there was for him.
{Meanwhile}
Julia looked on in stunned disbelief as Mewtwo vanished from view, but she quickly rushed forward to try and catch the quickly plummeting Ryan. She slipped and fell to the ground as she cried out to the boy, but Rhaegar broke free from the Crimson Fury and leaped underneath Ryan and allowed the boy to bounce safely on his stomach. She hurried up to Ryan's unconscious body and put her head onto his heart. Thankfully, there was a heartbeat despite the searing wound on his arm. She looked past Rhaegar and watched as the Master Ball wiggled three times, before securing it's capture.
The group watched as hundreds of Crimson Brand slaves collapsed, their Pokémon with them, in complete and utter exhaustion. The last two of the Crimson Branded Slaves still standing were Michael and Addison. Addison's eyes fluttered before she fell to the ground. Michael clutched at his heart and crumpled to the floor. Cameron rushed to her cousin's side to check on him.
"He did it" Julia cried out. "He really did it." She and Rhaegar cradled the body of Ryan. "He gave up his chance at life for all of us."
Alison burst out of the rest of the group and rushed to her son's side. "Ryan! It's okay, sweetie. Mommy's here."
Warren Tenton was in utter shock. "Ryan did that all for us? That kid really was cut from the same cloth as James and Michael." He then hurried over towards Addison and cradled his daughter in his arms. "It's gonna be okay, Addy. We're here."
Tori leaped into her fiancé's arms. "It's over! We won!"
Greg kissed her on the cheek. "We won! I can't believe it!"
Cameron heaved a sigh of relief. "It's over." She then glanced down at Michael, who was out of commission in her arms. "You can rest easy now, Michael."
"We won" Julia replied. "But at what cost?"
Alison buried her head into her son's chest. "We didn't win anything! We lost Ryan!"
Warren held his daughter in his arms and nodded in agreement. "Alison's right. Without a cure, everyone affected by this will never be able to heal." He sighed as a single tear dropped onto his daughter's body. "I'm thankful we have Addy back, but it's all for nothing if she can never do what she loves ever again."
Julia noticed that Michael's Poké Gear was ringing. She reached into her unconscious love's pocket and took the call. "Hello?"
"Professor Pines?" the voice on the other line answered. "Is that you?"
"Professor Krane?" she gasped.
"I-do hope I'm not interrupting anything."
Julia flushed with color upon realizing what it looked like. "No, no, no. It's okay. Thank you for calling. What's happened?"
"Holly Queensbury is out of the operating room" Krane explained. "Thanks to some effort from us here at the lab and Celebi watching over her, I can safely say she'll make a full recovery. The laser surgery and exposure to a piece of the Relic Stone has completely removed any trace of the Crimson Fury inside of her."
Julia nearly broke down on the call. "She's okay?"
"Completely" Krane said. "Though she will need about a week or so to recover. Michael asked if we could possibly manufacture these machines for mass production. The Queensbury Family has offered to fund their creation. Is that okay with the Champion?"
Julia nodded. "Yes, of course. That's wonderful news. Thank you." She looked over towards the hundreds of other fainted victims in the room. "Is there any chance we could start sending people your way?"
"Of course" Krane said eagerly. "We'd welcome the opportunity to help others. How many did you have in mind?"
"There are about a thousand of them here" she said.
Krane sounded like he was choking on something. "A thousand? The Syndicate must be busy."
"Were busy" Julia insisted. "The Syndicate is destroyed and their Branding Machines are a thing of the past, hopefully." She knew better than to discount the veracity of the Aceds and their allies.
"Michael did it then?"
Julia sighed, looking down on the unconscious boy on her lap. "No, it was someone else."
Krane laughed on the other line. "It's good to hear that the Syndicate is no more. Now, we'll get to work on transferring our operations to Arcana right away. Take care and we'll see you soon." With that, Krane ended the call. Julia put the Pokémon Gear down and began to cry. Cameron came to her side to comfort her.
"Are you okay, Jules?"
Julia flung her arms around Cameron. "Holly's cured! There's a cure. After all these years, there's a cure!"
Cameron smiled sadly as she looked down at Michael. "He's one lucky guy, that Michael."
Alison embraced her unconscious son, while Tori and Greg stood admiringly over Michael. Giselle looked down at Ryan and couldn't help but smile at Arcana's latest hero. Warren Tenton was immediately calling Deidre to tell her the news of their rescued daughter and the coming cure. Julia looked above them and saw as the Moon's crimson color began to disappear as the sun began to rise in the distance. For the first time in what felt like a century of hoping, praying and waiting, she could finally see the sun rising on Arcana. And it's view was absolutely breathtaking.