Despite Addison's insistence that he get at least a marginal amount of sleep before their day of rest and relaxation at Parlor Beach, Ryan could not bring himself to find the comfort of rest. Instead, he simply sat in his bed and stared up at the ceiling until he hard his sister fussing in her bedroom and hurried along to check on her. The remainder of the morning was spent with the two siblings playing along with all of baby Kayleigh's toys. Alison only checked on the two once before leaving them be until it was time for the two to have some breakfast. Ryan carried his sister downstairs and fastened her into her highchair as he prepared scarf down some pancakes from his mother. Though the weight of his eyelids seemed to be growing by the second, he didn't care so long as he got a few moments without having to worry about hearing the Siren's Song again.
Alison, noticing how slow her son was eating, did her best to broach the subject of his lack of slumber. "I think I know what's going on."
Ryan shrugged. "Well, that makes one of us."
Alison shook her head. "I'm serious, Ryan. I think I might have an idea on what's troubling you."
"I'm all ears, Mom" Ryan replied as he finished his first pancake. Kayleigh, who looked enviously at the pancakes her brother had in comparison to the tray of cereal on her highchair, tried her hardest to reach one of the pancakes until Alison came over to move her daughter's chair to the other side of the table.
"I think you're just missing Michael and Julia" she suggested.
"Of course I miss them" Ryan answered. "But I don't think they have anything to do with this dream I keep having." Ryan, when his mother wasn't looking, cut a piece of his pancake off and handed it to Kayleigh, who happily nibbled on it and ignored the cereal on her tray. "I mean, I would love for them to come back, but that's been the way of it since they left for Kalos."
"When was the last time you talked to them?" Alison asked.
"A few days ago" Ryan recalled. "Mike said that Julia's going to have their second baby soon."
"Perhaps you should reach out to them more often" his mother offered. "I just want my boy to get some sleep. You really need it."
"Well, unless you can somehow have this singing voice stop pillaging my dreams" Ryan said sarcastically, "I think sleep is out of the question." Ryan looked down on their table and noticed his mother had been going through an old photo album of theirs. He slyly looked up at his mother, who was busy rinsing the pans she had used to make the pancakes. "Are you sure you weren't the one who was missing them?"
"Don't be a brat, Ryan" Alison snapped. "I was just going through some of our old albums of pictures." She came down to the table and sat beside her children and opened one of them. "Look at this one. This is when the four of us went to the Pokéathalon Dome in Johto. Don't you remember?" The picture showed Robert and Alison each holding one of their sons as the boys were eager to run out onto the Pokéathalon Dome floor to play with all of the Pokémon. He and his brother must have only been five or six when they made their trip to Johto. Ryan looked at the sorrow in his mother's eyes and knew why she was looking at the photos.
She misses Matt. It was a tough pill to swallow for Alison to learn that her son had not only been a criminal, but had joined forces with the evil Syndicate and done atrocious things under their decrees. It was an even greater challenge for her to learn that rather than face the music for what he had done, Matthew had run off into exile with Jocelyn Aced and hadn't even made an effort to contact any of them. Ryan also missed Matthew, but more about what his brother had been to him instead of what he became. He would never miss the brother who had kidnapped Addison and nearly killed him and his friends in Titanio City. Ryan decided they needed to do less worrying about Matthew and thumbed through more of the pictures. He paused when he found something he wasn't sure he could remember.
"Hey Mom? Who's this?"
"Who's who, sweetheart?"
Ryan pointed towards a picture of him as a very little boy, playing at the playground with a little girl with platinum blonde hair and patchy clothing. The two children were so engrossed in whatever they had been doing, that it didn't even remotely occur to them that their pictures were being taken. "Who is that girl? Why can't I remember who she is?"
Alison looked over the picture and giggled. "I'm surprised you forgot. You and her used to be very close."
"Who is she, though?" Ryan asked again.
Alison seemed about to answer, but she was stumped on a name. "Hm. I can't remember myself. I remember that she and her grandfather were visiting Arcana for a bit of work before they left, but they promised to come back one day. That was ten years ago, at this point." She admired the photo. "I used to have to drag you away from the Playground whenever it was time to go home, that summer."
"I wish I could remember" Ryan sighed.
"You were four years old" Alison reminded her son. "I'd be surprised if you remembered anything about that time."
Ryan focused on another picture of him and this strange girl, where the two were on top of the jungle gym, looking down on all of the woodchips and holding hands. There was something strangely warm about her, but beyond a general sense of familiarity, he was drawing a blank on who she was. He looked up to his mother. "What happened to them? Her and her Grandfather, I mean."
Alison frowned. "I can't really remember, Ry. I do recall something about them going out to an island to see their family, but nothing else beyond that."
Ryan shrugged. "Oh well. I'm sure we'd remember it if it was that important."
"I agree" Alison responded as she looked out the window. "You've got company."
Ryan looked where his mother had glanced and spotted their entourage of friends gathering to head for their day at Parlor Beach. Holly Queensbury, her boyfriend Jeremy Lockhart and her little brother Tommy were all eagerly waiting by the outer fence of the Kingston property for him to come out. A ring on the doorbell could only be Addison. "Come on in, Addy" Ryan called to her.
The door opened and Addison walked her way inside, her Vaporeon close behind her. Sparks, who had been sitting on the couch, leaped down and started to sniff at his sister, before the two playfully chased each other outside of the house and out towards where the others were waiting.
"Good morning, Mrs. Kingston" Addison said politely. She came down to Kayleigh and giggled at the sight of the baby girl. "Good morning, Kayleigh."
Kayleigh, who was now trying to make art with her cereal pieces, only gave a fleeting smile to Addison before resuming her work. Alison shook her head at her daughter's stubbornness. "Kayleigh, we're not supposed to play with food. Ugh. Hello, Addy dear. How are you today?"
"Quite well, thank you" Addison responded, looking to Ryan. "Please tell me you got some sleep, Ryan."
Ryan laughed. "Come on, Addy. Sleep is for the weak."
Addison rolled her eyes. "You promised."
"Ryan has a penchant for being stubborn" Alison told his son's girlfriend. "But I guess you already know that by now, Addy."
"I do" Addison responded.
"You know I'm right here, yeah?" Ryan repeated.
"And are you ready for the beach day?" Addison asked him.
"I'm all packed" he said, gesturing for a knapsack by the door that contained a beach towel, bathing suit and their trusted Volleyball. Ryan finished his last pancake before he cleared his spot and prepared to make his way out the door with Addison. "I told you that you had nothing to worry about, Addy."
"I worry about you plenty" Addison said. She looked up to Alison, who was still trying to get her daughter to eat some of the cereal she had put out for her. "We won't be late, Mrs. Kingston. We all have things to do, starting tomorrow."
"Enjoy yourselves" Alison waved to them, her attention diverted by Kayleigh crankily kicking her tray of cereal with her stubborn refusal to eat more of her breakfast.
Ryan picked up his knapsack and opened the door for Addison, who winked at him as she walked past him and out towards their awaiting friends. Ryan followed her out and hurried over to address his friends.
Holly, like Addison, was an aspiring Queen of Arcana participant and had placed in fourth the previous year, only losing out to Piper, Addison and Morgan Augustine. Her strawberry-blonde hair had grown down to the base of her spine to compliment her growing physique. She had sky-blue eyes and an endearing kindness about her despite belonging to one of the most wealthy and illustrious families in Arcana. On their last journey, she had harbored deep romantic feelings for Ryan that went unrequited, but she still remained a close friend to him despite that and had found someone better suited for her in her boyfriend Jeremy.
Jeremy himself was similar to Holly in almost every way, save for the length of hair. He was an aspiring Pokémon League trainer who had first encountered Ryan and his friends at the Queen's Ball at Kingston Castle, being smitten with both Addison and Holly simultaneously, but choosing to pursue a relationship with Holly. He had bright blonde hair and was always eager for a Pokémon Battle. While he cared strongly for Holly, he had also taken a liking to her brother and became something of a mentor to the boy as the rest of his friends soon became too busy for the still young Queensbury boy.
Tommy remained the carefree and high-spirited boy he had always been, despite being two whole years older since he had helped Ryan and the Kingstons defeat the Syndicate at their compound in Titanio City and atop Mt. Heatmor. He still dressed like he had just crawled out of bed, despite having more hyperactive energy than all of the others combined and had the same charcoal colored hair he'd had since his first adventure. But with his increase in age would finally come Tommy's chance to prove himself against Arcana's Ten Gym Leaders and his first shot at becoming the Pokémon League Champion. So long as he continued to improve under Jeremy, the boy was sure he could contend with the best their region had to offer.
"Hey guys" Ryan called out to them.
"Morning" Jeremy called out, holding most of Holly's bags while she applied lotion onto her body. "Hope we didn't wake you."
"This one doesn't sleep anymore" Addison answered for Ryan, who shrugged.
"Believe me, I know" Holly joked as she finished putting sunscreen lotion on her legs. "I keep getting the updates of him from his Poké Gear about all of the things he's been up to since deciding sleep was irrelevant."
"Well, at least that means I know we get to have loads of fun over the next few days" Tommy chimed in, excitedly bouncing.
Ryan looked at the boy curiously for a moment, until he suddenly remembered what his mother had told him a few days ago. "Oh yeah. You're going to be staying with us for a few days until the Pokémon League starts up. I almost completely forgot."
Holly handed the lotion over to Addison, who proceeded to lotion up her body as well. "How could you forget that I'm participating in the Kalos Contests?"
"Because I'm not doing them" Addison suggested, spreading the lotion all over her neck and face.
"Hey, it's not my fault I can't sleep" Ryan joked.
"At least you did remember about today" Jeremy laughed. "It would have been awkward of us waiting out here for you the whole day, only to find that you went off to the League HQ or something."
"I wouldn't miss a Beach Day for the world" Ryan told his friend.
Jeremy turned to Holly as she waited for Addison to finish applying the lotion onto her body. "Hey, Holly? How come you didn't ask for Tommy to stick around my place in Magenta Grove?"
"Ryan owed me a favor" Holly winked at her old friend as she talked to her boyfriend.
"Yup" Ryan said glumly. Holly had confessed her love for him at the Faire Grounds in Cauldro City, only for Ryan's response to be to share his first kiss with Addison only a few moments afterward. With Holly choosing to keep their friendship over bearing him a grudge, along with how much emotional support she gave him after Addison was taken by the Syndicate, Ryan knew he was indebt to the fair Queensbury maiden for a while.
"I'm never going to hear the story about that, am I?" Addison asked.
"Not while I'm still alive" Holly insisted.
"Wasn't it because you told Ryan you were-" Tommy chirped up, before his sister elbowed him in the arm. "OW!"
"Like I said, not while I'm alive" Holly repeated. "Right, Ryan?"
"A hundred percent" Ryan agreed. "Now, come on. Let's head to the beach!" Ryan took the wheeled cooler from the thankful Jeremy, who carried his and Holly's bags down the road towards the beach while Tommy bounced along behind them. Addison and Holly brought up the rear as the quintet prepared to enjoy a glorious day at the beach.
{Meanwhile}
Amanda Fouritz knew she would never get used to the Research Facility being this empty. Whereas under Julia, the lab was sprawling with life and always busy, the lab that she had left to her protégé was deathly quiet and generally barren. Most of Julia's colleagues were still her own colleagues and Amanda knew she would have to make her own friends along the way. Hopefully, this Lucas that was going to succeed Professor Rowan in Sinnoh would be her first friend in the scientific Pokémon community. She didn't want to have to be the only fresh face in the community.
While she continued to do her work that Professor Maria had assigned her for, she couldn't help but wonder what the fate of the Ranch would become when she inevitably took over completely as the Pokémon Professor of Arcana. After all, when she obtained her doctorate and was able to decree herself as Professor Fouritz, the Research Facility would become hers and she was certain that Michael and Julia would turn over the rest of the land to her once they were settled in Kalos. But what would happen with her in charge? Would she want to make any changes? Or, more importantly, would she be able to? The Pines Family, despite only immigrating to Arcana only about twenty years earlier, had become quite respected among the elite families of Arcana. And Julia's marriage to the future Lord of Kingston Castle certainly made their family more powerful in terms of political sway. While she was certain Julia wouldn't stand in her way of any of the changes she wanted to make, could she say the same for the other noble families, or even the rest of the Kingstons?
These ideas and worries managed to force Amanda to take a bit of a break from her work in the office she and Julia had once deciphered the words of Deep Jade some two years earlier. While she took a sip from her freshly brewed cup of tea, she heard some rustling going on in the other room. Like a hurricane, Piper Pines had burst into the Research Facility, frantically looking for something before heading into what had once been Michael and Julia's domain and where she stayed on occasion to uphold her promise to look after the Ranch while they were in Kalos. She laughed at Piper's volatility as she looked for any updates in the science communities. Though it had only been a few short hours since the conference with Professor Rowan had ended, she was determined to keep herself in the loop and ensure she didn't miss a beat.
To her surprise, the biggest commotion in the scientific communities of the world was the sudden appearance of stormy weather in the Unova Region. The Pokémon that had all been called "The Forces of Nature" had wreaked tremendous havoc in the Unova Region only 24 hours ago, but there was no trace of the storm when it passed. The Pokémon were not known to simply destroy for the sake of it and definitely drew a great deal of ire from the community. As she tried to find any trace of it, she learned that a weather warning had been given for Waypoint Island, which was a small island well off the coast of the mainland of Arcana and served as the halfway marker between Charizark Town and Parlor Town. The weather reports called for a tremendous uptick in wind speed and a high chance of heavy showers and lightning storms. She decided to inform Piper of this before she went off anywhere. As she left her office, Piper was almost already out the door.
"Where are you going so quickly?" Amanda asked.
"Don't wait up for me" Piper told her occasional roommate. "I've got plans for tonight."
"You may want to reschedule those plans, Your Highness" Amanda cautioned. "The weather is calling for a huge storm surge to hit Arcana by tonight."
"Arcana's a huge place, Amanda" Piper insisted as she prepared to climb into her Corviknight Cab. "I'm sure it won't hit everywhere."
"Be that as it may" Amanda again worried, "I don't think you'll be safe in this weather."
"I'm just going to be in Titanio City, Amanda" she told her friend. "And I won't be traveling alone. I have an escort."
"Just be careful" Amanda again pleaded.
"I will be" she promised as she climbed into the Cab. When the Cab took off into the skies above Parlor Town, Amanda watched on and sighed before returning to her own work on the computer.
{Meanwhile}
On a cliff just outside of Blackthorn City, Jocelyn Aced could only watch on as her charge continued to rigorously train himself and his Pokémon against the harshest of Wild opponents they could get their hands on. No matter what she said to Matthew to get him to take a moment to rest, she could only get a refusal from him and he would force himself to go beyond his own limits. In the end, she knew Matthew's anger was going to destroy him.
Jocelyn had not changed much since her defiant stand against the Syndicate and her father, Elezar Aced. She was still decked out in the same black and purple attire that made her comfortable, while she had not felt the need to change her own identity, as she was deemed a friend of both the Champion Ryan Kingston and the former Champion in Michael Kingston. She had her short black hair that hunt down to her shoulders and a set of earthy eyes that always seemed to have a paleness to them despite her lively nature and constant battling she would undergo for Matthew's sake.
It had taken a lot of convincing on Matthew's part to let Jocelyn allow him to take part in the Johto Gym Challenge. Matthew was still a troubled soul well into their stay's beginning in Johto, but he was beginning to make at least minor strides in changing himself. He no longer treated his Pokémon as weapons of war, but he was still too ferocious in his battling style. He knew his actions in joining with the Syndicate were wrong, but he still harbored a serious grudge against his family for their own hypocritical actions. But what worried her the most was how hard on himself he had become. Matthew was his own worst enemy, constantly berating himself and telling himself he wasn't good enough to ever be anything, while forcing himself to also go beyond his physical, mental and emotional limits to match his mistrust of himself. And there was little she could do except be there to pick up his broken body every day of this rigorous and otherwise stupid training he put himself through.
The Dragon's Den Elders were just the latest signs for Matthew that he still had a long way to go, but Jocelyn had hoped that two years into this little experiment of hers would have yielded some kind of result for him. Instead of being a more open and less hostile person, though, Matthew was closed to basically anyone but her. At least he had someone to rely on if he needed.
But not during training. Matthew refused to stop his training for anything. And Jocelyn could only watch on until he got himself into a situation he couldn't handle and bailed him out before bringing him along back to the Blackthorn City Pokémon Center to get some rest for his weary Pokémon and his team.
While she watched her charge struggling to battle the likes of an Ursaring in the small field of grass that overlooked a stream of water, Jocelyn decided to take a minute to overlook her own team. To ensure that no one would follow them or suspect that she was still in some way loyal to her father, Jocelyn had released her own Pokémon and sent them away for their own protection. She started her own team from scratch as Matthew had. Now, she had a fairly potent team of an Absol, Blastoise, Ninetales, Dodrio, Jynx and a Marowak. The Marowak in particular reminded her of Matthew. He was always eager to fight and constantly determined to prove himself despite Jocelyn only raising a team to look after Matthew for. But she knew the difficult processes of life a Cubone had to endure. Most of them are orphaned at a very early age and forced out on their own to survive, much like Matthew. The Marowak she was raising was just as lost and confused as Matthew was and she couldn't help but wonder if the two were not more meant to fight side by side instead of her raising it.
She looked over to Matthew, who barely had the strength in him to stand, demanding the next Ursaring or Graveler come out to challenge him. She decided she had seen enough on this day. She climbed down the cliff and made it to his side.
"WHO WANTS SOME?" Matthew demanded. "I'll trash you all!"
"I think they got the message, Matt" she told him, grabbing his arm. "Let's go get some rest."
"You can" Matthew snapped. "I'm gonna trash every last Pokémon in these parts until I'm ready to blitz right through anyone the Elders can throw at me."
"That isn't going to help you" Jocelyn told him. "It's getting late. You need to calm down."
"I'll be calm when I'm in the Pokémon League like I belong!" Matthew growled, pulling away from Jocelyn. He saw the grasses moving nearby and sent his Primeape forward. "Let's go for the kill, Primeape! USE CROSS CHOP!" The Primeape leaped high into the air and prepared to slam it's high-powered fists into the Pokémon they had come across. But a tremendous roar forced the Primeape to fall to the ground. A huge tiger-like creature brimming with the power of Electricity emerged from the grasses and let out a savage snarl at the Primeape.
"MATT!" Jocelyn cried out, recalling the image of this Pokémon from the Ruins of Alph. "We need to turn back! NOW!"
"You think I'm afraid of some stupid looking Pokémon?" Matthew growled. "Primeape! Use Brick Break!"
Unafraid of the Pokémon it now faced, the Legendary Beast Raikou leaped onto the Primeape and began to swipe at it with the powers of Electricity. When Matthew prepared to intervene, he was blasted back by a Thunderbolt.
Jocelyn moved in an instant. The Poké Ball containing her Marowak shot out of her hand and the fierce Ground Type Pokémon emerged to face off against the Raikou. Raikou let out a wicked Thunderbolt, but the move did nothing to her Marowak. Sensing the turning tide, Raikou leaped off the rock and ran off into the gorge, allowing Jocelyn to check on Matthew. He had taken a nasty blow from the Thunderbolt, but was thankfully still breathing. Matthew's Primeape came over to him and stood over him, looking worried.
"He'll be fine" Jocelyn told the Pokémon. "We just need to get him some rest."
Looking a bit relieved, the Fighting Type Pokémon watched on as Jocelyn put Matthew's arm around her and helped him back up the side of the cliff to get some much needed rest for the both of them. Though the road wouldn't be easy for him to recover from, at least he still had her to look after him.
{Meanwhile}
Ryan and his friends enjoyed their last today together playing and enjoying each other's company down by the brisk and breezy shores of Parlor Beach. Throughout the day, in no particular order, the group had done all they could have possibly wanted to do at the beach. Addison and Holly peacefully laid about on their towels trying to get tans before they were to have to begin training for their own Contest exploits in Arcana and Kalos respectively. With support from Jeremy's Hitmonlee, the boys had taken part in a rousing game of Volleyball, which only ended when the same Hitmonlee kicked the ball so hard that it exploded on impact. After laughing it off, the boys had taken to swimming in the water with their Pokémon for a long period of time before heading back to their camp to build a fire and roast marshmallows and sausages over it. Upon smelling the cooking foods over the fires, Addison and Holly made their way over to join and added some curry to the menu. As the friends all sat down and enjoyed the meal, Tommy couldn't help but let out a sigh.
"What's wrong, Tommy?" Holly asked her little brother.
"I wish stuff like this didn't have to end" Tommy explained. "This has been the best day we've had since Ryan won the Championship from Michael. But now, we're all splitting up again."
Jeremy shrugged. "True, but that doesn't mean you'll be stuck on the sidelines, Tommy. I'll be traveling right alongside you to get your own Gym Badges."
"But what about you guys" Tommy said as he eyed Ryan, Addison and Holly.
Holly used a part of her towel to wipe away a bit of stray marshmallow on her cheek. "You know we won't be in Kalos forever. Once Mom and Dad have me situated in Lumiose City, they'll come back to make sure you haven't gotten into any trouble."
"You're parents are going to leave you in Kalos, alone?" Addison asked.
"Dad has a business to run and Mom doesn't want Tommy running amok here unsupervised" Holly explained. "Besides, since I'm both a Pokemon League and Contest contender, they know I won't become a damsel so easily."
"Nice to know your parents don't think I can handle things" Jeremy joked.
"Tommy can be a little much for some people to handle, sweetie" Holly chimed in.
"No I'm not! I'm a good boy!"
Ryan laid back as the skies exploded with the colors of sunset streaming over them. "We'll be back to doing stuff like this before you know it."
"I wish we could keep doing it, though" Tommy insisted. "I mean, you'll be off with the Elite Four running the League and Addy is going to head off to train with Lady Erin in Alchemiburg."
"Aw, you just want things to be like they were when we all set off" Addison concluded.
"Well, hopefully with a little less Syndicate involvement" Holly pointed out.
"Naturally" Ryan added. "And who knows, Tommy. Maybe we'll all meet up again in time for the Pokémon League Championships."
"I'm not going to let Cameron crush me this time" Jeremy affirmed. "I want to make it to the Title Match this year and prove I can be as good a trainer as you, Ryan."
"I welcome it" Ryan told his friend.
"We've all got great things to look forward to" Addison spoke to the group as she roasted another marshmallow for herself. "But the most important thing is that we don't forget each other. So long as we keep each other in our hearts, we won't have to worry about how far apart we are." She looked over to Ryan and beamed. "Michael and Julia taught us that, right Ry?"
Ryan nodded. "And those two are the best people we all know, right?"
"Of course" Holly answered quickly.
"Yep" Jeremy opined.
As the fire began to die down in front of them and the evening skies soon covered the formerly bright and sunny Parlor Beach, Holly gathered her own belongings and looked to her friends. "Well, this is going to be the last time we do this for a while."
"You're going to dominate in Kalos" Jeremy assured his girlfriend. "You may have what it takes to become the Kalos Queen and beat out Serena."
"Good luck, Holly" Addison wished as the two girls embraced. "Make Arcana proud."
"You do the same, Addy" Holly replied happily. "Don't let Piper take an inch." As the two pulled apart, Holly came up to Ryan. "If I come back and find out you lost out to anyone, I'm not going to be happy. I still want to take you on in the Tournament, Ryan!" With that, the two lifelong friends went into an embrace of their own.
"You're going to do great, Holly" Ryan told her. "It won't be the same here without you."
"Aw, you're sweet" Holly winked before heading over to her little brother. "Tommy, you be on your best behavior for the Kingstons and Jeremy, okay?"
"I know" Tommy stood proudly. "I'm not dumb, Holly."
Holly shook her head. "It isn't that, Tommy. It's that...well...I'm not going to be there to see you get your first shot at glory. And I just want you to know that even though I'm not going to be there, I will be in some way." She kissed him on the forehead, prompting Tommy to pull back in disgust.
"Come on, Holly!" he grumbled.
Holly sighed. "Take care of yourself." She turned to Jeremy. "Did you still want to see me off?"
Jeremy bowed politely to her. "If my lady wishes."
Holly giggled. "Very well. Sir Jeremy." Arm in arm, the two made their way back up the walkway to Parlor Town and the awaiting Corviknight Cab to take Holly to Titanio Airport and the next big phase of her own journey. Addison, Ryan and Tommy watched on as the duo disappeared along with the sun.
Tommy let out a yawn. "I think I'm gonna go off to bed. Jeremy said he would come to get me around lunchtime tomorrow." He looked up to Ryan. "Can I get the top bunk, this time?"
Ryan rolled his eyes. "Sure, but don't mess with anything up there until I get back."
Tommy looked at the two curiously. "You're not coming with me?"
Addison shook her head. "You go on ahead, Tommy. We'll catch up in a bit." As Tommy rushed off after his sister and Jeremy, Addison and Ryan cleaned up the rest of their camp and walked along back with each other. For a while, the two were silent. Sensing the need to break the melancholy mood, Addison chose to speak up. "It's going to be weird that we're not doing this together, Ryan."
"We've got our own journeys to go on" Ryan told her as he took a step closer to her. "But that doesn't mean we're going to be completely apart. I know that if I said I needed you, you'd be there in a heartbeat."
Addison nodded. "And I know the same, but that doesn't mean that it's going to feel okay doing this on my own, this year." She shrugged. "But, it can't be helped. You've got an entire Pokemon League that needs you, and I've got to be in my best form if I want to become the Queen of Arcana to rule beside you." She reached for his hand. "It's just sad that these times do have to come to an end so quickly."
Ryan shook his head. "They don't. Like you said, so long as we hold each other inside, we won't need to worry about the distance we're all apart."
Addison gave his hand a quick squeeze as the two approached his home. "Well, I'd better get some rest. I need to fly out to Craft Terrace tomorrow to make sure Tori can help me get registered this year. Then, it's off to Alchemiburg." She looked up to her boyfriend. "You promise we'll talk every night?"
Ryan nodded. "Of course, Addy. That's a hero's promise."
"I thought you said you weren't a hero" Addison pointed out.
"It's kind of growing on me" Ryan laughed. The couple gave each other a goodbye kiss before Addison made her way down the road towards her home. Ryan watched her go on, admiring his best friend and the love of his life for all that she was becoming. But as he prepared to head into his room and hopefully get some much needed rest himself, he looked back out towards Parlor Beach as he thought he could hear his Siren calling to him out in the breeze. When he was sure that Addison was out of sight, he raced back out onto the road and looked for the source of the singing, but could only hear the voice.
Great, now she's going to haunt me in the daytime, too. Ryan tried his hardest to suppress the sounds of whoever his Siren was calling to him as he raced inside and closed the door behind him.