Her Grandmother, the illustrious Maria Pines, had told Professor Julia Pines-Kingston that her second child would be easier than her first. But given the immense of amount pain she was in whenever she moved, she was inclined to think her grandmother might actually be wrong on a subject. Then again, Julia couldn't expect everything to be easy for her. The last two years of her life had spoiled her in terms of unfathomable amounts of joy and delight each and every day. For the first time since she was a little girl, before her parents had tragically perished in a plane crash while on their way home, she had a whole and complete family. While she would always cherish her grandmother for taking her in and raising her from a young age as well as Piper, she had always longed for a family to call her very own. Someone to love that she could see at the beginning and end of every day and a couple of children she could pass along all of her love and affection towards. And while the road to reach that point had been far from smooth, she finally had the family she had always wanted, and it was still growing.
Every single day, whenever she would wake up, she found him right beside her on the opposite side of the bed. The one she had been sure was the one for her since she was a little girl. The free-spirited boy she had befriended upon coming to Arcana as a little girl, the troubled soul she restored to life when they reunited in the Orre Region and the other half of her soul finally bound in matrimony until the end of their days. Her Michael. No longer bogged down by the duties of being a Champion of Arcana, the two lived a remarkably simple life in the Kalos Region, thanks to the massive personal fortune her beloved had accumulated over the years. They had done such a splendid job budgeting themselves, that neither she nor her husband would have to work a day in their lives until their children were ready to attend the college or finishing school of their choice. For roughly seven or eight months, it was just the two of them enjoying each other's company in Kalos and seeing the sights.
Julia had previously hoped that her joy could not possibly increase beyond that day, but upon the day she gave birth to their daughter Arya, she wore the silliest smile on her face for what felt like an entire year. Arya had a bit of both of her parents in her. She had her father's soulful eyes, but her long and flowing black hair and a ceaseless amount of energy that had the little toddler bouncing about their plentiful estate in Coumarine City in the Kalos Region. She loved her daughter immensely, but she could not deny the close bond between father and daughter that Arya and Michael had. Soon, once Arya was able to run around and become a trainer, Julia knew she would flock after her father as so many others did.
She had pleaded with Michael for a second child, barely a few months after Arya had been born. Michael worried about her own personal health more than anything, but when she had affirmed to him that she was ready to carry a second child to term, her beloved husband agreed. And as if it were a gift from Arceus above, it did not take her long to become pregnant with a second child. While she would eternally love Arya as the apple of her eye, she secretly wished for a son whom would cling to her as was expected of a Kingston boy. Michael's relationship with his own mother had been strained, but it was a surprise to no one that each of the other sons had a deep sense of being something of Mama's Boys, even Christopher, who had lost his mother in childhood. But she was sure she would love her child regardless of who or what they would be.
Julia was now only a few weeks away from having her child and had come to lean on Michael and his Pokémon for a bit more than she used to. Mufasa the Arcanine had become an incredibly helpful footrest, resting by her body and occasionally licking her whenever he felt she needed it. Rhaegar the Dragonite, having certainly tamed himself since his days of battling beside Michael, had since become her errand dragon. Rhaegar flew around all of the Kalos Region doing the things that Michael could not do for her in one day. She had originally been unsure of her husband's fiercest Pokémon, but the way he had softened around Arya affirmed to her that she could trust Rhaegar as she did her husband. In fact, on this day, she had sent Rhaegar out to Lumiose City to get some of her paperwork from Professor Sycamore's Lab. While he gathered for her what she needed, she had sent Michael and Arya out to go see the Wailords who had swam into the bay. A woman needed to have her private time, after all.
Now, as she tried her best to make herself comfortable on their couch, she opened up her laptop and connected it into the Video Chat of her and her old colleagues who were all going to take part in a brief seminar hosted by Professor Rowan of the Sinnoh Region. Rowan had served as a mentor to Julia during her Finishing School days and had even once attempted to hitch her up with one of his finishing students. Michael had put an end to that, but she could not help but appreciate all that Rowan had done for the scientific field and wondered what this seminar could be about. As she made to rest her feet on a pillow Michael had placed on the coffee table, she found two Pokémon doing their best to comfort her. Mufasa leaped over the couch and landed beside her before curling up and putting his head by her legs. And her own pride and joy, Bella the Sylveon, climbed up the couch and rested by her neck, playfully licking her as she made herself comfortable.
"I'm certainly glad you two are comfortable" Julia spoke up as her laptop continued to log her into the Video Chat link. "It's not like one of you is carrying a baby or anything." Mufasa yawned loudly and thwacked his tail on the couch before looking at Julia and panting as if he had just found the perfect ball to play fetch with. She shook her head and pet Mufasa's snout. "You're just like Michael, I swear." She flashed a look back towards Bella. who was having her ribbons around her neck gently massage her head. "And you're just like me, Bella."
Her Laptop made a "ping" noise and Julia logged into the Video Chat with the passcode provided to her by her old mentor in Professor Rowan had provided her with. Once she was logged in, she found herself the only one in front of her laptop and shrugged. "I guess I'm a little early" she said to herself.
"Right on time, Jules!" a woman's voice echoed from one of the screens. Julia watched as a fair looking woman with bright orange colored hair waved to her and appeared in front of her monitor. "And here I thought I was the only one who was logged in."
"Hey Sonia" Julia called to her friend. "What brings you in so early?"
"I've finally got a moment's peace here, Jules" she replied. "People have been running in and out of the lab all day. Probably because Leon is in town. Him and that brother of his are going to be the end of me." She looked her old friend over from the Galar Region. "You know, for a woman about to have her second child, you look magnificent."
Julia beamed. "Aw, thanks Sonia. You're looking good, too."
Sonia shook her head. "I've been stressing like a mad woman since I took over for Grandma. Not a pleasant experience. How did you cope?"
"I had Michael" Julia explains. Her own succession of her Grandmother had come as a surprise to her when Professor Maria announced her retirement, but Michael had been there for her to help her with anything she needed until she was able to bring along a graduate student. Once Amanda had come along, she knew she was settled in as Professor and didn't need to rely on her boyfriend. "Are you sure you and Leon aren't-"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Sonia snapped, her face as red as her hair. "I can barely handle him running around Postwick, let along my lab!" She laughed away her embarrassment before continuing. "So, when are you due?"
"Doctor said the due date was in about nine days" Julia replied. "Got to be honest, Sonia, I'm really hoping for a boy."
"If I know Michael from what you've said about him" Sonia replied curtly, "you're bound to get five daughters."
"A mother needs her baby boy" Julia explained.
"Boys are overrated" Sonia teased. "Just ask Leon's mother. Two boys and both are enough of a headache for her."
"Well, I still want one" Julia insisted. "It's not the same with Arya clinging to her father all the time."
"I'm surprised she's not trying to get in on the conversation."
Julia shook her head. "I have enough sense not to have her here for this. Michael took her down to Coumarine Bay to see the Wailords that showed up there this morning."
Another screen flashed open and another familiar face to Julia popped up on a feed from Arcana. "Professor Sonia! Professor Kingston!"
"Amanda?" Julia was surprised to find her former protégé in on this conference call.
"Professor Maria was supposed to take part" Amanda explained, "but she's not feeling well today. She asked me to fill in for her here."
"At least this will get you some experience in a conference call" Sonia told her. "Have you finished all of your examinations?"
Amanda shook her head. "I have one more test set for a few weeks from now. My Preliminary Evolutionary Examination. In fact, I was supposed to be taking it in Jubilife City before the Sinnoh Pokémon League commenced, but they've been holding off starting it for a bit. I wonder why."
"That's just Cynthia being Cynthia" Julia explained.
"You know the Sinnoh League Champion?" Sonia asked.
"Of course I do" Julia replied. "Cynthia and Michael knew each other from back in the day. They're good friends."
"Did someone say my name?" another voice chimed in. To everyone's surprise, a gorgeous blonde-haired woman with pitch-black clothing and an unmistakable Castelia Cone in her hand appeared on one of the lines of the Video Chat.
"Cynthia?" Julia asked.
"In the flesh, Professor Pines" Cynthia said as she waved to the others in the chat. "Sorry I wasn't able to make it to the wedding, Jules. I was knee deep in some mythology research in Johto. I can't pass up on a lead whenever I get one."
"We understand" Julia told her friend.
"So, how is that retired old man doing these days?" Cynthia joked.
"Enjoying his time with Arya and me" Julia replied.
"It's still astounds me how he's actually out as the Pokémon Champion in Arcana" Sonia chimed in. "From the way Leon spoke about him, I thought he was invincible."
Julia shrugged. "Michael was the best in Arcana. Until someone else rose up."
"The Hero who stopped Mewtwo" Cynthia inferred. "I need to see this kid in action, myself." She licked away at her Castelia Cone while conversing with her colleagues.
"If there's one thing Ryan welcomes" Amanda told Cynthia, "it would be a Pokémon Battle Challenge."
"I figure Chris and Cam give him little leg room in terms of resting" Julia suggested.
Amanda nodded. "Those two have been gunning for Ryan's job since he took down Michael. Well, Cameron mostly."
"What's wrong with Chris?" Julia asked.
"Let's just say Chris has been pretty quiet for a while" Amanda giggled. "I think he's got his eyes on something other than the Championship at the moment."
"Chris's Achilles Heel" Julia joked.
"Well, let's just hope he knows what he's getting into" Amanda responded.
In a flash, the remaining screens chimed in with Professors from all across the world popping into the conversation. For those who could not be there, such as Professor Juniper in Unova and Professor Oak in Kanto, their assistants filled in. Soon, each and every slot was filled in for the Video Chat as the elderly Professor Rowan made his way into the picture.
"Salutations, everyone" he said in a gruff and stoic voice.
An amalgamation of voices chorused the same thing back at him. "Good day, Professor."
Rowan nodded. "I'm glad to see we could all make it here, today. Cynthia, is your research in Undella Bay doing well?"
Cynthia gave her former mentor a thumbs up. "Absolutely, Professor. We should be finding exactly what made those underwater caverns there very soon."
"Excellent" Rowan decreed. "And Sonia, are you adjusting well?"
"As well as could be expected, Professor" Sonia replied dryly.
"It's good to see you after all this time, Professor" Julia casually replied.
"Ah, Julia" Rowan spoke. "Congratulations on your coming second child. I trust you received the wedding gift I sent?"
"We did" Julia replied. Julia recalled receiving the first stethoscope she had every used in his tutelage as a wedding present from Rowan. "Thanks to you, we've been able to hear Arya and her new sibling's heart beats."
"Glad to see you're all doing well" Professor Krane of Orre chimed in.
"Indeed" Rowan cleared his throat. "Well, I called this conference to inform you of some changes coming to our branch of Pokémon Research here in the Sinnoh Region."
"Did you find a new Eeveelution?" Sonia asked.
Rowan shook his head. "Afraid not. This news is not of a new discovery that's unfolded, but of a development." Rowan seemed unsure about how to approach the matter, but the old man nevertheless coughed into his handkerchief to continue. "I have discussed things with my family and I have decided to retire from my lab in Sandgem Town and spend more time with them."
Everyone was silent for a moment. Julia herself was heartbroken. Rowan had been as much a mentor to her as her Grandmother had been. If he was retiring as Sonia's Grandmother and her own had, the Pokémon Research Field just lost three of it's pioneers.
To no one's surprise, Cynthia was the first to speak up. "I see. Is there any way we can change your mind?"
Rowan shook his head. "Alas, my dear, I cannot change my mind. It is time for someone else to succeed me as the long term Professor of my studies. This is why I wanted to hold this conference with you all. I am holding an open invitation for anyone who is willing to take my place as the new Head of the Sandgem Pokémon Lab until my apprentice has completed his doctorate."
Birch, the Professor from the Hoenn Region, spoke up first. "I wish we could help, but I'm currently helping my own kid out with researching the Mythical Pokémon, starting with Jirachi. It's hard to get an interview with Lizzie West these days."
Professor Sycamore of Lumiose City nodded in kind. "I don't think my family would want me to leave Kalos for Sinnoh."
"I'd offer Grandma" Sonia exclaimed, "but she's enjoying the quiet life herself now."
"Same with mine" Julia added. "And until I have my baby, barring a major emergency, I can't leave Kalos either."
"Do you think I could take up that position, Professor?" Amanda asked.
"You, Miss Fouritz?" Rowan asked. "Aren't you still a test away from completing your studies?"
"I'll be headed to Sinnoh in a few weeks for that test anyway" Amanda pointed out. "And you yourself applauded my paper on the potential links between the Pikachu and Emolga lines."
"If I name you as my successor" Rowan explained, "that would mean there was another post opened when you vacate the Research Facility in Arcana."
"But-"
"Professor Rowan is right, Amanda" Julia told her protégé. "The Ranch is yours as soon as you complete your studies."
Amanda nodded. "I figured I'd try to help."
"I appreciate your candor" Rowan told her, "but I don't want to cause trouble."
"I see no reason why Lucas can't take over" Cynthia told her former mentor. "He's proven to be a reliable assistant, right?"
"An assistant, yes" Rowan countered, "but not as Professor. The boy is only 14 years old, Cynthia."
"Fourteen and an accomplished scholar" Cynthia replied. "Dawn isn't the only one who's proven themselves."
"This is an age of kids and teenagers rising up to take on strong positions" Sonia pointed out.
"Arcana and Kalos both have champions at only fourteen years of age" Julia commented.
Rowan spoke to Cynthia directly. "You truly have faith in the boy?"
"I do" Cynthia answered confidently. "Let him complete his doctorate and show you he's ready. What's he going to write his research paper on?"
"Hold on, I have it right here" Rowan said as he searched through his papers for the proper theme of his pupil's research paper. "It's going to be about the historical connection between all of the world's legends. I was about to sanction his trip to explore some of the regions of the world to complete his studies." Rowan cleared his throat. "If I understand correctly, Julia or Amanda, we've missed the time for the Crimson Fury to come in Arcana?"
Julia shuddered at the mere mention of the affliction that had haunted her life for the last seventeen years of her life. The sensation inside her beloved Michael's heart that made him an unstoppable fighting machine nearly destroyed their relationship and him alongside it. While Professor Krane's work in removing the Brand had hopefully succeeded in removing it, she still had her nightmares of what Michael and the others had suffered through. Nevertheless. Julia nodded. "The Crimson Fury passed two years ago and won't appear again for another thirteen years."
"I think Lucas should begin his research in Arcana, then" Rowan suggested. "At least we won't have to worry about the Syndicate or any of the sort. But to be safe, Cynthia, I would like you to be there with him."
Cynthia shrugged. "Sure. I want to size up the new Kingston Champion anyway."
"New Champion?" Rowan asked, before turning his attention back to Julia. "You and Michael aren't going to be there?"
Julia shook her head. "We're in Coumarine City. Barring any unforeseeable circumstances, we'll be in Kalos for a long time."
Amanda took the opportunity to step up. "I'd be glad to help him, Professor. We have more than enough research paperwork about the Crimson Fury from our scouring through Balthazar Aced's notes. And, our Champion and potential Queen of Arcana have also suffered through it themselves, so that could help his work."
Rowan nodded. "Very well. On an interim basis, I will be testing Lucas to see if he is ready to succeed me as the Professor of the Sandgem Pokémon Lab."
Julia nodded and was about to add to the conversation, when she heard a high pitched toddler's laugh coming from the other room. She smiled to herself and closed up the laptop. The love of her life and her sunshine were home.
"Okay, it wasn't that funny" Michael replied.
"Poooooshhhh!" Arya cried out. She then continued laughing. Curious about what they were going on about, she looked over the side of the couch to see that her husband was completely drenched in water.
"What on earth happened?" she cried out.
Michael looked to the giggling baby in his arms. "Did you want to tell Mommy, or should I?" When Arya only laughed, Michael rolled his eyes and handed her over to her mother. "This one thought it would be funny for the Wailord to use Water Spout on all of us who were out there watching them."
"She didn't get wet, did she?" Julia asked worriedly.
"Of course not" Michael replied. "My entire body made sure of that."
Arya looked at her father and laughed more. Julia held her daughter close to her and kissed her on the cheek. "You and that little laugh of yours."
"Mama missed wailees!" Arya cried out as she clung to her mother. "Daddy go splash splash!"
"Mama got to stay dry" Michael replied as he walked out onto the veranda and rinsed his shirt dry. Mufasa saw the amount of water his trainer was doused with and sniffed at him, before barking at him to stay away. Michael removed his shirt to have it dry out in the air. Though his body was still scarred by the wars he had fought to protect Arcana, Julia could not help but quiver whenever she saw her husband's pique physical condition. Arcana's former hero rolled his eyes as he came back inside. He plucked Arya off of her mother. "We share your Mom, remember?" Michael bent down and kissed his beloved wife.
"My Mama! My Mama!"
"I think she wins" Julia giggled as she took her daughter back into her arms and embraced the little toddler, her big and soft eyes darting all over the room in excitement for the day. "Oh, my baby girl. Did you have fun today?"
"Mama come with us!" Arya insisted.
"Not until your little brother comes" Julia told her daughter.
"How are you feeling?" Michael asked as he came down by her side. Bella stretched her body out and walked over to him to lick his cheek playfully.
"Fine. The baby won't be here for a while."
"Piper wants to be the first person to know" he reminded his wife.
"Then Piper should be here and not in Arcana still" Julia playfully chided.
Mufasa leaped off of the couch and barked at his trainer happily. Michael made his way past Mufasa and sat where he had been seated beside Julia. Michael happily pet the Arcanine as he sat down. "Thanks for keeping my spot warm, bud." The Arcanine bounced up and down before trotting out onto the veranda to sun himself. Michael put his arm around his wife and cradled his family beside him. "Did you enjoy your conference?"
"Professor Rowan is retiring" Julia told him sadly as Arya began to nap on her chest.
"Well, I can see why he'd want to" Michael replied, taking Arya off of her and having her rest on him like a baby gorilla would on it's parent. "But it is sad to see the guy who taught you all you know retiring."
"And he's going to send his protégé to Arcana to study the Crimson Fury" Julia continued. "I told him to look for Amanda and Ryan while he's there."
"Just the two for them to seek out."
"Cynthia asked about you, too. I think she'll be going to Arcana with Lucas."
"Good for her" Michael said plainly.
"And you have no need to go back to see them?" she inquired.
Michael shook his head. "Nope. Not a one. All I need for my life is right here in this room with me. You, me, Arya, Mufasa, Bella and...wait, where's Rhaegar?"
"Off in Lumiose City" Julia laughed. "I needed an errand run and you guys were off." As she finished speaking, the Dragonite landed on the veranda by where Mufasa was. The Arcanine barked and hopped backwards as Rhaegar sauntered into the cottage and handed Julia a parcel before noticing Michael was home and growling contently. He looked down at Arya and let out a cheerful chuff.
Michael rubbed Rhaegar's head playfully. "You big softie. All Julia has to do is bat her eyelashes at you, isn't it?"
"I told you he takes after you" Julia teased, resting her head on his shoulder.
Michael nodded and held his wife close to him. "He sure does."
{Meanwhile}
Humming along to her favorite pop song while she soaked within a bubble bath inside her penthouse apartment in Titanio City, Piper Pines took some much needed time to rest and relax before the upcoming Queen of Arcana Contests would commence. And boy did she need it. This was the first time in a few years that she had legitimate competition for once in her life. Addison Tenton had proven to be quite a formidable rival for the title of Queen of Arcana. Though Piper had certainly considered dropping her position as Queen following the Taghwan Hall Burning two years earlier, she could not help but feel that this was something that she should soak in as much of as possible.
Piper was just as radiant as she had ever been. Long and perfectly fine sienna-colored hair, the haunting dark-colored eyes the Pines Family was best known for and a smile that still melted the hearts of most men who came before her. Even the Champion was still smitten with her, despite his feelings for Addison. But she and Addison were not unhealthy opponents, in either the game of love or in the Pokémon Contests. In fact, during Addison's first real Queen of Arcana Contests the previous year, Piper had taken her under her wing and taught her the tricks of the trade. Perhaps a little too well, as only a few points managed to keep her in front of the ambitious daughter of Deidre Tenton. Now, at least, she could focus more on herself and her own chances.
But that was the problem. She was having a hard time focusing on anything lately. Not from a lack of trying, mind you. But her thoughts had long been on something she had never expected to come to pass.
Despite being the most beautiful and most eligible maiden in all of Arcana, Piper seemed to have difficulty maintaining a healthy and positive relationship with the many suitors she had accrued since her first term as Queen of Arcana. Some, like her dancing partner Alonso, were too superficial and egotistical to be able to settle down in a long-term relationship. Others, like Tanner Haggerty, were too immature for her and could not be trusted to keep loyal to just one woman. The others all simply wanted her for the prestige or the popularity or even the idea of being romantically involved with the Queen of Arcana, an idea that Piper found utterly sickening. She needed someone mature and thoughtful for her husband.
The only problem was, that the man that fit every bit of criteria she had ever had for her dream suitor, had been smitten with her cousin for essentially their whole lives. Michael Kingston was everything she could have ever wanted in a romantic partner in her life. He was handsome, mature, caring and above all, always put others needs before his own. She had crushed on him since meeting him as a little girl when she and her broken family of Julia and her Grandmother moved to Arcana for a slower life and he was the first friend either girl made. Since then, Michael had saved her life on a handful of occasions, supported emotionally, mentally and financially her and her cousin and was always there for her whenever she needed him. Their love was one of the same nature of his feelings towards Chris and Cameron. He naturally adored her, but it was not the romantically inclined romance she had in mind, but a sibling-like caring for. That honor of his affection fell onto her cousin Julia. After practically pushing the two together, she was overjoyed at the news of their engagement and marriage. But a part of her died that day. The part that had always dreamed that she would be the bride to travel down the aisle with.
One would assume the next logical choice would be to move down the totem pole of Kingston Men available to her. But this list had a marked drop off after Michael in terms of both quality and availability. Jon, his eldest cousin, would be an ideal match if it weren't for his immense infatuation with Annie Tress and their coming marriage. Daniel Kingston, now a member of the Elite Four, was a known suitor of hers and often sent her a bouquet of flowers after every performance of hers. But the boy was immeasurably immature and lacked the nuance of being in a committed relationship. Billy Kingston was an option, but he seemed to prefer the company of her friend and aspiring Pokémon Professor Amanda Fouritz. And naturally, due to age and romantic barriers of his own, Ryan Kingston was not an option for her.
That left one Kingston bachelor left. And it stung for her to even think of him as an eligible candidate to win her heart.
Christopher Kingston, despite being the best friend and practical brother to Michael, was anything but the nuanced gentleman his cousin was. He was as bad as Tanner when it came to flirting and maturity, he lacked the drive and passions his cousin had as well and after more than twelve years of being a member of being a part of the Arcana Pokémon League, Christopher had a grand total of one Title Match appearances in his whole career, which ended as quickly as it began as Michael proved too much for his best friend to muster.
But on the other hand, there was a reason why he was called Arcana's Heartthrob. While Michael had always insisted he was a "one-woman man" and devoted himself to Julia, Chris did not feel the need to tie himself down to anyone. His longest romantic engagement was a total of six weeks with a visiting Queen of Arcana Contestant from the previous year that he flirted with nonstop during her stay in Arcana. But as the Contests heated up, his interest died down and he soon began to, oddly enough, swing his personal support for the winner of the contests to Piper herself. And Piper had to admit, he was remarkably handsome without that grotesque eyesore of a beard he used to have.
Piper was no fool when it came to Arcana's Elites, as well. Eventually, they would realize that she was an eligible maiden of 21 years of age and was not yet married or involved in a long term romantic relationship. She didn't like that she had to subject herself to these norms, but what other choice did she have? She did have great wealth from her time as Queen, but her closest relations left in the world were her aging Grandmother who was already comfortable in her retirement home and her cousin in Kalos whom she couldn't just burst onto the scene with, not with a niece and another child on the way. This was the way of Arcana. Michael had warned her as much when she first got involved. She would just have to buck up and decide if it was worth it to pursue a relationship with a man whom she had also known since her youth.
While she hummed along to her favorite songs in her tub, she was caught off guard when her Poké Gear began to ring and interrupt her leisure time. She rolled her eyes and dried off her hand before reaching for her Poké Gear. She looked at the number and her heart nearly skipped a beat. She composed herself and answered the call as if she was doing her personal errands and had little time for his nonsense. The last thing I want to do is sound desperate.
"You've reached the line of Her Royal Majesty, Queen Piper Pines" she replied cordially.
"You're getting used to that line, aren't you?" Chris's voice echoed on the other line.
"It must become a Queen to act like one" she spoke properly. "But I welcome all calls from my faithful friends and allies. What can I do for you, Chris?"
"Who are you putting on an act for?" he laughed.
Piper sighed. He's getting better at seeing through my ruses. "Couldn't pull the wool over your eyes, could I?"
"You may be a Queen, Piper, but you'll still always be the same girl I've known most of my life. Anyway, I need to ask a favor of you."
"A favor" Piper teased. "Well, a Queen rarely does her subjects favor, but I think I can fill you in for one. What does my faithful attendant need of his Queen?"
Chris snorted on the other line. "Okay. Well, Your Majesty, I am in a bit of trouble at the moment. You see, I have a reservation for two at Le Grande Bistro in Titanio City, but I don't have a second to bring along with me. Would a Queen grace my presence with hers tonight? Say, seven o'clock?"
"Hmmm" Piper replied. "Let me check my schedule for you. Hold on." She put the Poké Gear into a pillow it had been resting on and nearly squealed like a little girl. She composed herself and reentered the conversation. "I believe I do have a slot available tonight, but just this once. I hope you appreciate a Queen setting aside prior obligations for you, good sir."
"I do, Your Highness. I'll send a private chauffer out for you at approximately a quarter to seven. I'm looking forward to it." With that, Christopher ended their call.
Piper took a deep breath as her heart nearly leaped out of her body. Well, so much for luxuriating. A Queen cannot miss her important engagements, after all. She unplugged her drain and climbed out of the bathtub, quickly wrapped a towel around her body and hair as she realized this was the same Christopher Kingston that she had been longing to see again since his radical changes after Michael's last Pokémon League Championship. A fancy bistro was nothing like the same Chris she had known all of her life. Michael would have treated her to something like this, but not Chris. While she did her best to temper her expectations, she was positively giddy about an evening with someone she had held close to her heart for such a long time.
{Meanwhile}
Out in the fields in front of the Pokémon League HQ just to the Northwest of Titanio City, Cameron Kingston stood proudly observing her team of Pokémon training as best as she knew how to do: herself. While training with someone was probably the best way for someone like her to go, she defied conventional wisdom and had been training on her own since she was a a twelve year old inductee into her cousin's first Elite Four. Now, with Michael's reign long over and another cousin tenuously sitting on the same pedestal she had thought rightfully belonged to her, Cameron was determined to prove that she was truly the rightful successor to Michael and their grandfather James.
Little had changed about Cameron since her defeat at Ryan's hands in their first of what she expected to be a decade of bouts between them. Her hair had grown back out since the Taghwan Hall Tragedy, but she remained the steely and otherwise merciless leader of another Champion's Elite Four. To upgrade from the same Elite Four uniform she had worn under Michael, she had taken the liberty of a more casual attire since Ryan's ascension and wore a personal black and purple jump suit with her trademark beanie atop her head. But her pride and her sheer determination to prove herself had gone unchanged. After coming within a blow of defeating Ryan in the Title Match the year prior, she knew that with just a bit more determination on her part, she would outclass him and take her mantle as the Champion of Arcana and finally step out from under the shadows of her brother and Michael. Though she loved the two dearly, it had been a lifetime in their shadows despite being a better trainer than her brother and a better overall leader than Michael.
With a special targeting system that Mark and Lizzie had invented left over, Cameron was fine tuning the accuracy of her own merciless roster of Pokémon. While Chris and Ryan constantly experimented with a new batch of Pokémon each battle, she was proud to say she had not made a drastic change to her team in some time and only made them stronger and more ambitious than ever before. With her pride and soul of her dear Mythical Pokémon friend Victini behind her, she was sure she was capable of winning anything. Her Slaking represented her long dormant potential waiting to be unleashed. Her Kingdra represented her intense fighting spirit and ceaseless determination to keep fighting no matter the challenge. Her Venusaur represented her desire to continually grow past the levels she had reached already. Her Salamence stood for her ruthlessness in battle and her passion for battling truly worthy opponents. And her Lucario, the very soul of her battle squad, represented the endless desire to show the world that she wasn't just all talk and was truly the strongest trainer in all of Arcana. After all, the only trainer who had shown to be constantly better than her had long since retired into the life of being a father and husband. While she wished her cousin the best, she pleaded that he never had the same desire to be the best again so that her time in the spotlight would come.
Her Lucario stepped in front of the group and stood waiting for the Targeting Machine to spit out it's targets. Six floating targets shot out from the device and spun around in a rapidly moving ring formation. Her Lucario took a deep breath and unleashed a wickedly powerful Aura Sphere, which floated into the middle of all six targets and destroyed them all in one magnificent blow. She wiped a bead of sweat off of her head as her Lucario leaped back to her side.
"Good work, Ryo" she told her longtime friend. "We'll show them this year." She and her Lucario high-fived as the doors of the HQ opened. Her cousin Daniel eyed her curiously as she deactivated the training system. She folded her arms when it took him more than ten seconds to state his reason for interrupting her training. "Well?"
"You do realize that the League Championships aren't for a few months, right?" he asked her.
"What's it to you if I keep training?" Cameron haughtily replied. "This is how a Champion works, Daniel."
"You mean a lunatic, right?" Daniel laughed.
Cameron ignored the taunt. "So, what's on tap for the next lay about in the Elite Four?"
Daniel called out his Unfezant and climbed atop it's back. "I'm headed to Iron Mountain. Billy has some new techniques and pyrotechnics for the Gym he wants to show off. Just make sure you don't work yourself into a coma, Cam. The rest of us have things to do." With that, the Unfezant soared into the skies after a running take off and Daniel was gone.
Before Cameron could resume her training, her brother stepped out of the HQ after Daniel and stretched himself out. To her surprise, he wasn't wearing his training gear, but a tuxedo and the like. "What the heck are you dressed up for?"
"Can't a guy get dressed up without the need for outside pressure?" Chris replied.
"Most guys, yes. You? No."
Chris rolled his eyes. "Fine. I've got a date tonight. And I want to look good for it."
"Which poor unfortunate soul have you tricked into dating you tonight?"
"Hopefully the last one I'll ever need to" Chris replied, surprisingly mature for her brother.
Cameron laughed. "I never thought I'd live to see the day you take something seriously. "
"Mike taught me something when he left" Chris explained to his sister. "And I intend to uphold that lesson as best as I can until the end of my days."
"That would be?" Cameron inquired.
"If you don't know what it was" Chris replied bluntly, "then it's not my obligation to tell you, Cam. Take care." Chris called out his Charizard, climbed atop Spyro's back and soared off towards Titanio City.
Since when did he decide to start acting like Mike? Cameron asked herself. She shook the feeling off and continued her work with improving her Pokémon Training skills. But just as she was about to resume her training, the doors to the HQ opened for the third and final time as the last member of the Elite Four sauntered out into the field. Cameron grunted as she spotted Giselle smirking at her. "Do you mind? I'm in the middle of something here."
Giselle, like Chris, also seemed to be dressed for an occasion. "Don't let me get in your way, Speck."
"Why do you insist on calling me that after all these years?"
"Because you're still the same little Speck I first met all those years ago" the former Syndicate Snatcher winked. "Constantly needing to train to show us how big and strong you are."
"Can it!" Cameron snapped. "I train to continue to improve myself."
"I don't recall Michael ever needing to train" Giselle replied. "Or Ryan for that matter."
"I don't recall when I asked for your opinion, Giselle" Cameron bitterly retorted. "Would you do me a favor and get lost already?"
"Don't worry, Speck" Giselle mocked. "Judging from the way your cousin and brother were acting, I'll conclude that you'll have the rest of the day to train yourself purple. I'm heading out to town to meet some friends."
"You have friends?" Cameron hissed. "I didn't know there was anyone who could tolerate you!"
"You'd be surprised what the world can offer when you're not constantly training yourself for battles you know you won't win" Giselle cruelly added. With that, she called out her Aerodactyl and climbed onto the prehistoric Pokémon's back. "Have fun refighting the same battles we've already won, kid." Aerodactyl let out a fierce cry and took off into the sky like a falcon.
Cameron watched as her three Elite Four members flew off on their own errands and grunted to herself. I'll prove all of them wrong. Chris. Daniel. Giselle. Ryan. While they're all relaxing and wasting their time, I'll close the gap between me and Ryan and I'll be spending the next few decades where I belong: as the Arcana Pokémon League Champion! Cameron reactivated the targeting machine and continued her bitter work.