Matthew could never have predicted his own reaction to learning of the passing of his Grandmother. He was expecting himself to be cold and distant to the idea of her passing as an exiled former family member would have. After all, Lady Bonnie was the primary suspect in what made him loathe his family for all that they had become after James's death. A decadent and hollow shell of political maneuvering and a desperate need to cling to power. Why his brother and Michael were so keen on protecting them when the Syndicate was an alternative to that same lifestyle, he would never know. He knew that while he had done things for himself and to expedite his own rise to power, he would never have turned his back on someone who was on his side as his Grandmother had on Michael on two separate occasions.
But when Jocelyn told him of the ArcNet News Story that appeared talking about how Lady Bonnie had died in her sleep peacefully the night before, he was at first silently reflective and he even found himself hollowing out at the news. Despite his hatred for the political machinations the Kingstons had become notorious for, she was still his Grandmother. The same sweet and kind woman who never once had a bad thing to say about him and never once treated him poorly. He would miss his Grandmother specifically for who she was to him, not the woman she was to the rest of Arcana.
Jocelyn left Matthew alone for a while to think about his loss, but there truthfully wasn't much for him to mourn. It wasn't like he could just set forth to Arcana and go to pay homage to the soon to be buried body of his Grandmother, when half the region still thought of him as a dangerous criminal and the other half wanted him to answer dearly for his crimes, including the girl that had meant the world to him growing up. But there was no reason to mourn his past, as that was long behind him. Apart from one underlying thing that ate away at him. The only thing that he was sure was keeping him from surpassing the Elder's Test.
Ryan. While his defeats at Ryan's hands went unavenged, he would still forever be his underling. Inferior. Weak. And that was something Matthew refused to be. If he could somehow get his rematch with his brother in without incurring the wrath or ire of those he didn't wish to face, he would finally be able to put the rest of his past behind him and move on with his life. But if he didn't at least get the opportunity to test his newfound battling skills against his brother, he would be stuck there in Blackthorn City until he was as old as the Elders of the Dragon Clan. How can anyone expect me to change while I'm still forced to think about how Ryan beat me?
He took a deep breath. I need to clear my head. He rose to his feet and headed over towards the computer room of Blackthorn City's Pokémon Center. If Jocelyn was going to be off on her own, the least he could do is try to get in contact with his mother again. He hadn't spoken with her since his exile, but if the family was in mourning, he thought it would be best to try and reach out to her. His father and brother would block the calls, but his mother would answer. He hoped. He went through the contacts he had in his own private server in the Johto Computer Mainframe and prepared a Video Chat that would go right to his mother's Poké Gear. To his confusion, he already had a Video Chat request from someone. He looked at the name and it simply read: [Unsolicited]. He decided he would do what he always did with various telemarketers and prank callers: enter the chat and break it off just as quickly. As he set himself up for the combination, he paused when the screen popped up and he recognized the man who was contacting him.
"Ah, I was hoping you would be online today, my boy" the elderly man spoke eloquently.
Matthew was unsure how to react. "Claude? Claude Jacques?"
"Indeed it is, young one" Claude responded. The old man was just as Matthew had remembered him. Despite being on the run for the last two years as he had been, Claude was still wearing one of his remarkably expensive and fanciest suits Matthew had ever seen. This made Matthew snicker to himself. Even a studious old codger like Claude had endless pools of money put aside for situations like this, he supposed.
Clause looked him over. "It's good to see that exile hasn't made you any less powerful, Matthew."
"I do what I can" Matthew responded plainly.
"Which is good to hear" Claude continued, taking a sip from a glass of chardonnay. "You and I remain the only Syndicate Administrators that are either sane or free from the doldrums of prison. Which means that it will soon fall to you and I to restore order where there is none."
"The Syndicate was demolished" Matthew reminded. "Without the power of The Grand Master or the Crimson Fury, there really isn't a stake for us in Arcana anymore. Hence, why I'm here in the Johto Region."
"The Syndicate's Leadership was not demolished" Claude informed the boy. "You and I are prime examples of this. Cast out by the very region we were hoping to salvage from the decadance and corruption of the Kingston Family. Myself, once a true and honored friend of James and Bonnie. And you, the brother of the Pokémon League's Champion and a former pupil of Michael and Julia Kingston."
"I seem to remember most of the Syndicate Administrators are behind bars or dead" Matthew retorted.
"Cassius and Elezar have not been seen since they were disposed of" Claude agreed. "Most of the others are are safely tucked away inside Klefki Prison. You and I are officially the only two Syndicate Administrators left free in this world." He chuckled to himself. "Though, I must admit, I'm not the current figurehead for the Syndicate. That honor belongs to Courtney."
"And Courtney fell into the lava on Mt. Heatmor" Matthew replied. "My cousin and brother saw to that."
"Then why was Courtney the one who contacted me in hiding?" Claude asked the boy. "The Kingstons believe the war is over. That with their victory over our ranks at the Battle of Mt. Heatmor, they have forever quelled the power of those who sought to dominate Arcana. They failed to comprehend just how powerful The Grand Master was. Even sealed away and hidden from the rest of the world, he has been in contact with the fractured remnants of The Syndicate."
"Then why contact me?" Matthew asked. "I was only in the Syndicate because of Elezar's training of me."
"A strong organization requires strong minds at the top" Claude explained. "Say what you will about Courtney and Hunter, but the two are far from mentally stable. And The Grand Master as well can be a touch genocidal. I need someone who can serve alongside me and has something to fight for. Someone who bears the Kingston Family the same grudges I do. Someone who sees them for what they really are. Someone like you, Matthew."
"You think I'm a strong mind?" Matthew asked. Now that would be an interesting take.
Claude nodded. "Indeed I do. You were the one who orchestrated the abductions of your former friends. You were the one who would have secured the vagabonds from ArcNet who dared to interfere had it not been for Michael Kingston's timely arrival. You have a keen intellect and you do not care whom you cross or harm along the way. That is the kind of mind that The Syndicate needs on top. You won't be subservient to anyone but The Grand Master. And most important of all, you would be free to reclaim the place with which you were born to possess. The title of being the Most Powerful Pokémon Trainer in existence."
Matthew was now heavily intrigued. The Syndicate was still at large, lurking in the shadows of another Kingston Regime in Arcana. And so long as Ryan was the one in charge, he was certain that they would continue to be able to grow in power and be ready to strike back in no time. Let's face it, Ryan is NO Michael. We'll be able to run circles around Arcana before they realize things are wrong. But then he realized something. Jocelyn. There was no way in the universe that she would let him get involved with the Syndicate again. And wherever he went, she had a tendency to follow.
"As great as that sounds" Matthew told the old man. "I'm going to have to decline. I still have Jocelyn Aced breathing down my neck."
"The girl keeps you on quite a leash, doesn't she?" Claude snickered.
Matthew grunted. "Of course she doesn't! But I owe her for being the one to keep me out of prison. I'd be right in the slammer with the rest of them if she hadn't been there to help me escape."
"Then you won't have to be the one who puts that little treacherous viper in her place" Claude told the boy.
"Treacherous viper?"
"Did you forget she is the one who leaked all of our plans to Julia Pines in the first place?" Claude snapped. "We would have been running Arcana had she not gotten cold feet and sold us out." He folded his arms in disgust. "She's a far greater pest to us than your brother or any other Kingston could be." He calmed himself as he continued to address the boy. "Do not fret, Matthew. Your time to drop her will be coming soon."
"How can you tell?" Matthew asked.
"Courtney and I have been finalizing our plans" the aristocratic gentleman explained. "We've been working on something that will keep anyone who could be a threat to us occupied, all while pulling at the seams of that heroic brother of yours. While he unravels and the rest of Arcana crumbles around them, we can sweep our way through and restore The Grand Master to power. So long as you play your part well, you might even get your chance at avenging your losses to your brother."
Matthew sighed. They know me way too well. "What would I have to do?"
Claude's face smoothed out and he grinned slyly. "Keep your ears and eyes open, my boy. Soon enough, things will become more clear."
With that, Claude ended their transmission and Matthew was left to ponder what the future held in store for him. The Syndicate is on the rise again, Arcana is under Ryan's blissfully stupid reign, Grandma is gone and there isn't a person Claude or Courtney is afraid will interfere in their plans, apart from Jocelyn. Matthew's thoughts lingered on his traveling companion. Most oddly, it felt odd to him about just ditching Jocelyn at the first sign of Claude or Courtney's signal, but if it meant he would finally get his rematch with Ryan, he didn't care who he had to hurt along the way. He NEEDED to get that match in. He sat back on the chair and thought to himself. What does "pulling at the seams" mean? They'd better not interfere with what I want to take from Ryan!
"Did you get through to her?" a voice called behind him. Matthew let out a yelp and turned around to see Jocelyn standing over him.
"My Mom?" Matthew did his best to regain his composure and shook his head. "No. But I didn't expect to. They're all probably busy. The last thing I know she would want is for me to pop up again."
Jocelyn shook her head. "A mother's first need is to ensure her children are looked after." She tapped him on the shoulder. "Come on. I've got dinner." As Jocelyn made for what was quickly becoming their own personal couches in the Pokémon Center, Matthew looked on as she made her way there and couldn't help but feel shame as he realized that the only person who had any real faith in him, he was going to have to double cross at some point. He shrugged off his worrying senses and logged off the computer, making his way to enjoy dinner with her.
{Meanwhile}
The clouds were an endless ocean of grays and muted colors as they came above Kingston Castle. Whether it was meant to reflect the passing of it's Lady or not was open to interpretation. But it certainly added to the deep sense of somber that was growing around Arcana following the passing of Lady Bonnie Kingston. In the massive sea of gardens behind Kingston Castle that led out to the King's Bay, a massive monument was being erected to commemorate Arcana's fallen King and Queen. James, who's death had come sixteen years earlier, was already buried there on the private family lands. And, after today's funeral proceedings, his longtime best friend and wife would join him in being buried there. The monument itself was a tall statue of both James and Bonnie in their prime, which would stand tall and proud in the center of the rose gardens that Lady Bonnie had been so proud of in her later years.
Inside the Castle Chapel, where only a few years earlier Michael and Julia had been married, the Kingstons and their friends and families gathered once more. There was not an empty seat in the entire Chapel, including more than a hundred additional seats being made to fill out the side aisles. More than 3,000 people had come to say one last goodbye to their beloved Lady and cherished friend.
With Lady Bonnie's casket already brought in and sitting on a raised platform behind the podium, a line of onlookers began to form that stretched as far out as the Castle Courtyard. Some people, as old as Lady Bonnie, were there to say farewell to an old friend. Others, children who had only ever heard of her name or seen her on television, stood beside their mothers and fathers to offer their own respects to her grieving loved ones or to even get a glimpse at the Champion, who was no doubt to be there.
The Kingstons themselves led the way and had paired up with someone to mourn with. James Jr., also known as Junior, led the way with his wife Lauren by his side. They were the first two to make it to the casket of his mother and the two immediately fell to their knees in front of it and prayed to Arceus above to keep her spirit safe until she reunited with James. After a moment of saying their farewells, Lauren led away her devastated husband so that Doug and his wife Janine could come up next. Following them was Lady Erin and Anthony. With her particularly devastated by the passing of her mother and confidant, Erin found herself leaning heavily on Anthony as they finally made their way up to give their final farewells. After Erin came Jeice and his wife Shannon, whom Bonnie had gladly welcomed into the family after the tragic passing of Jane and she could never repay her for her kindness. Robert and Alison came next, with Alison cradling her daughter in her arms as they paid their respects. As if she could sense the sorrow of the situation, Kayleigh was remarkably quiet for a newborn at a funeral and only clung to her mother as they stepped down and made their way for a pew next to their siblings and in-laws. Last of Bonnie's children came Byron and his wife Joy. Byron, who was also to be the standing minister for the funeral, remained standing by the casket while Joy left to comfort a deeply sorrowful Erin, though he himself had to breathe slowly to keep himself calm.
Next, came the Grandchildren of Lady Bonnie. While the Church's Choir sang the same song that Bonnie and James had danced to at their wedding, "A Field of White", Jon Kingston led the way as the eldest and with his precious fiancé Annie Tress by his side. Annie clung to Jon lovingly, while Jon wept openly over his Grandmother's body. As the two had been betrothed inside the halls of Kingston Castle by Lady Bonnie, this was a particularly painful loss for the both of them. Second after them came her adopted Granddaughter Katrina and her husband Carson, the eldest of two daughters of Shannon whom Bonnie had adored and cared deeply for even though they were never her blood relations. After Katrina came Victoria and her husband Gregory, the Gym Leaders of Craft Terrace and Terra Town and Bonnie's first Granddaughter. Tori had rekindled a strong relationship with her grandmother after the two had been estranged by her brother's banishment, so seeing her there was particularly painful for her. With Michael and Julia's presence still in question, next came Madeline Kingston, who had to cut her own mourning time in half to help console her father Byron as he nearly broke down in front of everyone. Next came Christopher Kingston, who placed in his Grandmother's hands a single white rose before stepping aside to be alone. Jenna Kingston followed her cousin, but found herself unable to be there for long and fled for the loving embrace of her mother and father. Renee Kingston, Shannon's other daughter, appeared next and stood silently for a moment before saying farewell and sitting beside Christopher in the pews. Cameron went up next and gently placed another White Rose inside of her Grandmother's eternal resting place, before fleeing to her father. Billy Kingston, who had been with the Coastal Patrol most of the previous night helping the search efforts for Amanda Fouritz, was so unfocused that he nearly stumbled over one of the bouquets left by Lady Bonnie's admirers and had to be brought out of the way by his sister Jenna. Daniel Kingston followed his cousin Renee's example and simply stood in silence over his Grandmother before taking his leave to sit in the pew alongside his cousins.
Ryan rounded out the last of the Kingston cousins and could only keep his composure thanks to Addison being beside him. The two made their way up to the casket and looked down on Lady Bonnie as she finally rested in peace. Ryan clutched at the Red Rose his father had given to him to place inside with her, almost unable to move his arm up and place it in there. I know it's a part of life. But why do these things have to happen so soon? As the Red Rose fell in place on top of his grandmother's folded hands, Addison took his arm and led him away to sit beside his cousins. Ryan buried his head into Addison's arms and she lovingly embraced him, gently patting his back. I don't know how I could have done this without her. Addison had shown up at their house in the evening the day prior and simply sat with Ryan as the grief of their situation finally hit him in full force. Only the support of her was what got Ryan to come and face his fears of loss this day, as not even Tommy's cheerful optimism could have convinced him.
"You gonna be okay, kid?" a gruff voice called behind him.
Ryan looked and saw Big Mike sitting behind them. He almost didn't recognize him without being in his construction clothing, but he did his best to perk up for him. "Yeah. I'll be okay. Thanks, Big Mike."
Addison glanced over her shoulder and saw Piper sitting beside Big Mike, herself doing her best not to smudge her makeup. "You know you're free to cry, right?"
Piper nodded. "I know. It's just, never an easy situation." She finally put her handkerchief down and sniffled. "She didn't have to welcome me so kindly. Me or Julia for that matter."
Big Mike nodded. "A lot of people usually discount her kindness because of how great a guy her husband was. When Erin and I divorced, she could have made it a bad situation for the both of us, but she kept me in touch. Sometimes, I talked to her more than my own children."
"Don't be so dramatic, Dad" Tori snapped from the far side of the bench Ryan sat on.
"Hey, sometimes..." Big Mike teased.
"I missed you, Uncle Mike" Cameron called back to her Uncle.
"Well I appreciate it, Miss Cameron" Big Mike remarked happily.
Ryan and Addison turned back towards the line which was seeming to finally die down. As the last pair of mourners, the butler Gerard and Lady Bonnie's personal nurse April, gave their regards, Byron Kingston waved towards the choir and organist to have them end their songs so that the procession could continue. Ryan couldn't help but spot a servant make her way to April's side and whisper something into her ears. April and the servant departed for parts unknown while Byron stepped up to the podium and cleared his throat.
"As adults" he began, unfolding his glasses to read what he had written down, "there isn't a lot that you get to learn before you get sent off into the world. Sure, you can learn a vocation or trade or anything of the sort, but there are somethings you are never prepared for. Today, was something I knew would one day come, but I was never prepared for." He took a deep breath before continuing. "But if there was anyone who could prepare you for anything, it was Lady Kingston. She sent her six children out into the world to learn whatever they could, but always made sure we knew what the most important things in the world had to be for us: Family and Duty. To learn from two of the best people has been a privilege and an honor. But to be the son of the two, is a gift from Arceus above. My father always used to say that Lady Bonnie would live another 100 years after he died to make sure the lessons he wanted all six of us to learn got buried into our heads." This got a quick burst of polite laughter while Byron took a moment to collect himself.
"Lady Bonnie was, as many of you know, exceptionally kind and passionate about a great many things. She was a fierce competitor, but never shied away from helping even the most helpless get their feet beneath them. While our Father was the heart of our family, I like to say that we got our soul from her. Even to her enemies, Lady Bonnie would show kindness before hate and mistrust. She may have been a bit eccentric or even meddlesome to some of us, but she only did so because she wanted to get the very best person out of each and every one of us. I know he isn't here to speak for himself, but I know that my nephew Michael would say that-"
The doors of the Chapel opened and every head turned backwards to the entrance. Ryan's eyes followed everyone, but the sheer amount of people who blocked his view made it impossible to see. But when he flashed a glance back up to his Uncle, he knew the astonished gasp of him signaled who it was that had just arrived. Addison gave his hand a heartfelt squeeze as the two finally saw Michael making his way past them and up to the casket himself. He placed a Blue Rose inside before coming up to embrace his remarkably surprised Uncle. Ryan tried to get his cousin's attention, but Michael's face carried so much emotion that he paused himself. Michael simply made his way to the side of the chapel and stood in silence while his Uncle tried to continue.
"Who would have guessed he'd be this affected by it?" Cameron remarked to Ryan.
"I don't think that's it" Chris told his sister. "Something's wrong."
"I'll go find out" Piper told the duo, excusing herself to go stand with him.
Ryan looked past Cameron and up to Chris. "What do you think is wrong?" When Chris didn't immediately answer, Ryan could only assume that there were somethings he didn't need to know immediately.
{Meanwhile}
Piper quietly excused herself past the remaining family and friends of Lady Bonnie to check on Michael. She paused when she reached the end of the bench and saw the deep lines of worry etched on his face. There's more to his worry than just being here for the funeral. She looked around for a sign of her cousin and came to the realization of what the worry precisely was. She slipped over to his side before she formally addressed him for the first time. "You're here alone?"
Michael shook his head. "I'm married to the most stubborn woman on the planet."
"Then where is she?" Piper asked.
"My Grandmother's nurse is looking after her" he replied. "The trip here was painful for her."
"Does that mean-"
Michael sighed and nodded. "The baby is coming."
Piper nearly squealed, but she contained her joy for after the funeral. But her joy was also offset by the deep look of worry on her friend's face. She wrapped her arm around his. "Come on, Mike. You're gonna be a father again. You can at least be somewhat cheerful."
"I'm worried about her" Michael admitted, his eyes still transfixed on his Uncle giving the speech. "She...she wasn't in good shape from the minute our plane took off."
"You don't have to worry about her" Piper assured her friend.
"Easier said than done, Pipe" Michael replied halfheartedly.
Piper smiled up at him. "Either way, it's good to see you guys are back."
{Some Time Later}
It was a gentle rainfall as the procession moved out towards the monument in Lady Bonnie's garden. Four of her five sons were to serve as pole bearers and help carry her coffin into the courtyard, as Byron would be leading the procession as the chief minister. But with both Jeice and Junior unable to do so emotionally, Michael and Christopher volunteered to do so, which prompted the rest of the grandsons to insist on being involved. So, with Doug and Robert leading the way, the others found spots to squeeze in between them and the younger men at the back. Jon and Ryan stepped up behind Jeice and stood in front of Chris, each with an arm on the bottom of their grandmother's coffin. Billy and Daniel did the same and stood behind Doug and in front of Michael. The boys peppered Michael with questions about what Lady Bonnie's will had stipulated, but Michael did not find himself comfortable answering those questions and told them they would just have to wait and see.
The men finally arrived at the garden and placed the coffin's poles inside the designated mausoleum, where James had already been laid to rest some time earlier. The mausoleum was big enough to host the next dozen or so generations of Lords of Kingston Castle as well as their wives could be put to rest. A thought that did not sit well with a certain prominent Kingston.
The thought of being stuck in Arcana for a significant amount of time made Michael deeply unhappy, but it would have to be the case. Julia's health complications combined with how long the legal process of finding out who the next in line would be if he refused would be too draining on him. He wanted to only have to worry about his wife and children, should they come out of this in one piece. STOP IT! They're going to get out of this okay. Both her and the baby.
Byron cleared his throat to make his closing speech. But he froze in place before he could and Madeline had to help her father step down as he finally broke down beside his wife and daughter. Jon urged Michael forward and the new Lord of Kingston Castle stepped up to the outside podium and cleared his throat. He would have to wing it. Something he felt he wasn't particularly good at.
"On behalf of the Kingston Family" he said to the mourners, "I would like to thank each and every one of you for coming out to pay your respects to my Grandmother. And in some way, shape or form, she cared for each and every one of you I see right before me." He looked out into the audience and saw the rest of his family eyeing him with awe. Seems like they've already decided I'm going to be the next Lord of Arcana. Funny how that works. They always seem to get what they want in the end. "As many of you are no doubt aware, my Grandmother and I were not on the best of terms for a significant portion of my life. We bickered, argued about politics and formalities and even had a bit of a tiff over who would be the woman I spend the rest of my life with. But, as I sat in my home in the Kalos Region, I think my wife helped put it best for me. Though her means were completely unconventional, I don't believe Arcana would be where it is now without her. I certainly would never have found Julia and I know a good many people here who's lives would be completely different without Lady Bonnie's as we grandchildren like to call it: meddling." He then addressed his family personally. "Though our Grandmother, Mother, and In-Law is gone, we know that she is certainly in a better place. When Arceus has concluded in guiding her way all the way to the heavens above, she will be reunited with Grandpa and the two will be continually bound until the very end of time itself."
As he felt the raindrops on his head, Michael knew he had to wrap it up at this point. "Everyone here is invited to take part in a banquet to honor the life and legacy of Lady Bonnie Kingston. But now is the time for Lady Bonnie to be allowed to rest, now and forever. And, it may be a little late for this now, but I forgive you Grandma." With that, Michael stepped down and allowed his rejuvenated uncles to bring his Grandmother's coffin into the mausoleum to rest. As he stepped down to the side, he was approached by a servant of the castle.
"Lord Kingston, sir" she bowed.
"Please don't do that" Michael said awkwardly.
"Forgive me, sir" she replied, a scared and worried look on her face. "Your wife is asking for you urgently."
"Hey! Mike!" a voice chimed up from behind them. Ryan raced over to him and seemed eager to jump into him. Michael held his arms up and Ryan skidded to a stop and looked at his cousin worriedly. "Mike?"
"Not now, kid" Michael replied sadly. "I need to be with Julia." He looked back up to the servant. "Where is she?"
"In the Infirmary, My Lord" she replied.
Michael nodded and tussled his cousin's hair. "Take me to her." He then looked down at Ryan. "I'll be back."
"But-"
"Relax, Ry" Michael assured his cousin. "I'm not going anywhere." He then took off after the servant, his heart sinking into the pit of his stomach as he began to worry that his fears of Julia's health were only going to intensify going forward. He could not bear the thought of losing both his Grandmother and his wife at the same...WOULD YOU STOP THAT! She is going to be fine! She has to be. She needs to be. I can't do this without her.