Despite having lost both her husband and her son only recently, Matthew could not help but admire how strong his mother was by holding their fledgling family together through it all. She had taken it upon herself to become a much more active member in the community and constantly made speeches and calls for support of the new and inexperienced monarchy. She would still do her former daily rituals, such as going to the market for food to cook and caring for both of her remaining children as only a mother could.
But he would still notice moments where his mother would freeze, no doubt still spiraling from the death of the only man she had ever loved and their oldest child. So, Matthew took it upon himself to take on a more active role with the development of his little sister and the care taking not only of the house, but also his new responsibility as the Guardian of Shaymin. He would educate his younger sister, feed her, tuck her in for her naps and did everything he could to fill in the boots of not only himself, but his father and brother. He knew Kayleigh was wise to the idea that neither had made it off of Mirage Island, but she seemed content to be spending as much time with her "Broboo" as possible.
On this downtrodden day of drizzling and gray skies, he kept Kayleigh on the porch of their home, distracted by Shaymin's actions of causing Alison's flowers to blossom and shine despite the gloomy weather. With his sister placated and chores completed, Matthew took a moment to let all that had been transpiring soak in for him. So much had changed since what unfolded on the island that he was having a hard time keeping up. He was on decent speaking terms with both Addison and Holly since then, his cousin Michael was named Arcana's first King in 600 years, only for Julia to be attacked and nearly killed by Courtney possessing a man from her past. And above all, Addison was the White Mage that the letter Avery had written spoke of. She, not Ryan, would be the one who would stand up to and fight Mewtwo. It was amazing to know that Addison would play such a critical role in shaping the future of Arcana. But this left himself in a precarious place. Where did his future lie?
He may be on speaking terms with Addison and Holly, but he knew better than to hope they saw him as a friend once more. Dawn and Lucas seemed to be warming up to him and even Tommy only chided him in play, not seriously. He found himself in the uncomfortable position of needing to replace Ryan in their lives, when none of them could ever see him as anything more than the boy who had once let his pride and arrogance corrupt him. His mother and Kayleigh would still need him, but he expected he would be called upon to fight on their behalf when that inevitable time came. What role could he play in this coming future? Or would he be pushed to the side for it all?
He looked up at the skies and saw a Corviknight Cab descending quickly towards his home. Kayleigh noticed the Cab and pointed up to it. "Coco Cab!"
"Close enough" he laughed, taking his sister's hand and pulling her to her feet. "Head inside now. Go play in the living room until I come inside, okay?"
"Broboo play with Kaywee?" she asked.
"Of course" he grinned. "Now go."
The toddler disappeared inside and left Matthew alone to speak with those new arrivals. Cameron and Piper made it out of the cab and rushed onto the porch to get out of the rain. His cousin was the first to speak. "Matt. We need to talk to you."
"If you're looking for retribution" he replied, "you'll have to get in line."
"This is important" Piper insisted. "We think we might be able to trap Hunter and get the Mythical Pokemon back from him."
"Why bring this up to me? Shouldn't you be talking to Michael?"
Cameron shook her head sadly. "Michael's an emotional wreck right now over what's going on with Julia. We can't depend on him for this. But we do need your help." She eyed Shaymin bounding up and down the porch nearby. "Shaymin chose you to be his new Guardian. And that is why we need your help in trapping Hunter and getting the other ones back."
Matthew folded his arms. "And you think putting Shaymin and Victini in danger is going to help this? We don't even know if Hunter is here?"
"Yes we do!" Piper insisted. She took out her Poke Gear and showed Matthew the weather patterns over the last several weeks, including near Waypoint Island. "Look at this. There were no noticeable storm clouds near the Island when you all were on it. All day and evening. Until, right here. Storms don't suddenly just appear and then vanish. This was controlled. Hunter has the Forces of Nature on his side and Rayquaza. This is the same thing as what happened when Amanda disappeared."
"Hunter could have just as easily left back for Mirage Island" he theorized.
"Why would he, when his prey is so close to being in reach?" Cameron countered. "This is the key, Matt. The key to everything. Hunter will have all six Mythical Pokemon at his beck and call. He will have the remaining four of them on his person. We can get them all back. Mew, Celebi, Jirachi and Manaphy. All we need to do is set up some irresistible bait for him. And that's where you and I come in."
"Live bait? This sounds like one of my brother's ideas."
"It may not work" Piper warned, "but it's the only chance we might get at this."
"Getting the Mythical Pokemon back now is more crucial than ever" Cameron added. "Keeping Jirachi out of Hunter's hands is one thing, but more importantly, we need to ensure Mewtwo cannot use them for his own purposes. Especially Celebi and Mew."
Matthew was not as confident as they were. "How many are in on this plan?"
"Seven if you say you're in, six otherwise."
"Hunter is going to suspect a trap" Matthew argued. "He isn't so stupid as to fall for one so easily."
"We think he might if the bait is too tantalizing for him to refuse" Piper concluded.
"What's all this about?" a voice chimed in from nearby. Alison Kingston slowly made her way over to the house after taking her trip to the store. "Cameron. Piper? What brings you two here?"
"Aunt Alison" Cameron began, but Alison stopped her.
"I can tell why you're here" she admitted. "No need to come up with an excuse or lie. Something else has come up and you need my son's help."
"I know how bad things are, but-"
Alison again waved her niece off. "Stop right there. No need to say anything else. Matthew can make his own decisions. I won't intervene on his behalf." She collected her belongings and went into the house, not giving the others another glance. Matthew spied his mother scooping Kayleigh into her arms and showering the toddler in kisses.
"Will you help us?" Piper asked.
Matthew sighed. "If it will help speed things along, sure. But I don't see this ending well for us."
Cameron grinned. "You and Ryan could not be more apart. He would have jumped headlong into trouble if it meant he could help us. You have your reservations. But, it's a welcomed change. It means you know what will happen if we fail." She whistled to the Corviknight, who squawked loudly and opened the doors for his Cab. "Let's get a move on. We've got some planning to do."
As Cameron went back into the Cab, Matthew called over to Shaymin, who hopped onto his shoulders and began to nuzzle him. Before he could react, Piper grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the Cab. Within seconds, the Cab had taken off en route to Kingston Castle.
{}
His fears of losing Julia skyrocketing with every moment, Michael had left Titanio City on his own and fled to the only place he could hope would have given him some time with his thoughts: the peak of Iron Mountain. He and his Pokemon had gone there many times long ago to think and ponder moves and plans, but now he chose to use it as a way to escape from his doubt and fear, even for a brief moment. Even as a gentle mist fell on him and Rhaegar, the two simply sat in silence. His Dragonite would let out an occasional chuff or chortle to try and cheer his trainer up, but would grumble sadly and silence when Michael did not react. He didn't have the power in him to do so.
This was one too many failures to endure. He had failed too many people over course of his life. His Aunt and prodigal mother and his Grandfather. All of his friends that were trapped on Mirage Island. Icarus the Espeon and the other Pokemon that had been lost to him when Mewtwo made his proclamation to free all Pokemon. Losing his best friend and prodigal brother. His failure to protect Robert and Ryan. And now, his one true love no longer had any memory of him and might end up leaving him. If he lost Julia again, he might not have it in him to keep fighting anymore. How could he break this news to his children? How could he possibly move on from her? How would the people of Arcana expect him to be a King, when he couldn't even protect anyone he loved? He couldn't help but wonder if all of those things Addison had said and the words Countess Rosemary had foretold were all for nothing.
"Michael" a voice called from nearby.
He couldn't bring himself to answer, but he knew who it was. He simply sat in silence as his sister slowly made her way up to see him. Victoria sat down beside him and frowned. Rhaegar noticed this, but did little else.
"I can't know how you're keeping together right now" she admitted. "If I was going to lose Greg, I'd be inconsolable. But I believe there has to be a reason you've been able to endure all of this for so long. Right?"
"I don't know anymore" he admitted. "All I ever wanted to do was be the one you all could depend on. But the more people I fail, the more helpless I feel. The more worthless I feel."
"I can assure you that you aren't worthless" his sister encouraged. "You're just going through a new set of hardships, Mikey." She took a deep breath. "I know I can't ever replace Chris and Cam to you, but you are still my little brother. And I want you to know that you can always look to me when you-." Michael put his head on her shoulder and he let out a stream of tears. Tori put her arms around her brother and patted him on the back. "If only I knew this was the way you and I could have spoken back in the day, we might never have drifted apart."
"What am I going to do, Tori?" he asked. "James and Arya. They need her. I need her. If she leaves-"
"Which is kind of why I'm here" she explained. She looked over her shoulder and gestured towards someone. Michael opened his eyes and saw Annie and Olivia making their way over to him. Both women wore looks of worry on their faces, but nevertheless approached him as lovingly as they could.
"I know this isn't the thing you may want to hear right now" his sister continued, "but if Julia doesn't remember you and wants to leave, you can't keep her here. You can't expect her to love you or the kids if she doesn't know you. And yet, James and Arya need a mother."
"A King needs a Queen" Annie reminded him. "No one can ever replace Julia in your heart. And no one will expect you to. But you have duties to attend to. Not just as a Pokemon Trainer, but as a father and a leader of all of Arcana." She made to pet Rhaegar, who surprisingly let her and growled contently to himself as she did. "I love Julia. We all do. But if she can't remember us, we have to brace ourselves for life without her."
"You're asking me to set my wife aside?" Michael asked, pulling away from his sister.
"We're asking you to think of James and Arya" Tori told him gently.
"And the rest of Arcana that is looking to you for leadership" Annie added. "Which is where we come to this proposition." She stepped aside and let Olivia come up with her plan.
The gorgeous redhead took a deep breath before she spoke to him. "I will never be able to stand in for Julia completely. But ever since you and she let me into your world, I want you to know how much I've come to love you four. Little Michael looks at Arya like such a good friend. And James is as cute as a button. I am willing to help you carry this burden of leadership. If Julia doesn't come around, I will be more than happy to fill in on her behalf." She put her hands on top of his. "Not for any selfish or political reasons. But because of how much I love you all. And how much I've always cared about you. My son looks at you like a father-figure already."
Michael was shocked at their audacity, but found himself unable to vehemently argue. "I can't do anything until I know for sure if Julia is healthy or not."
"None of this happens if Julia remembers you" Olivia reminded him. "This is purely circumstantial."
"Exactly" Tori told her brother. "It'd be better to take Olivia in as a wife if this unfolds than it would be to wait until this fated clash with Mewtwo comes."
"It would keep things tempered politically" Annie added.
"I don't care about the politics" Michael hissed. "That's why you're my Vizier."
"And I always will be" Annie winked, "unless you fire me. But you can't do everything by yourself. A King needs his Queen just as much as a husband needs a wife and children their parents. Can you do it all without someone by your side?"
"Believe me" Olivia went on, "I was not the first option. But unless you've warmed up to Caitlin or Rebecca recently, no one else fits."
"I highly doubt you'd go for Piper" Tori explained. "It would be too awkward and could probably...well, most definitely would cause friction between you and Chris if by some miracle he comes back. And Dee, despite how much she cares about you, already said no. She's with Warren."
"My little sister can't take the responsibility" Annie added. "And considering the rest of the eligible maidens in Arcana are either married or too young, we really don't have another option."
"I cannot and will not be able to take Julia's place in your heart" Olivia admitted. "I can live with that. But James and Arya don't need to go their entire lives without a mother. And you can't do this alone, no matter how much you may want to if she isn't there."
"I'd be betraying her" Michael worried.
"Nobody wants you to get her back more than us" Tori told him as soothingly as a big sister could. "Seeing you like this is killing us inside. But being where we are also means making tough choices. I won't have my niece and nephew growing up without a mother in their lives, Michael. And you should be agreeing with me."
Michael's frown drooped. He couldn't argue with them. He knew they were right. If, by the coldest grace of Arceus, Julia did never recover her memory, he could not keep her there against her will. And Arya in particular would not take long to notice the conspicuous absence of her mother. James as well, but in his own subtle ways. He would never be able to emotionally let Julia go, but for the sake of his children, himself and his Kingdom, he may not have a choice but to prepare to do so physically. "Annie, get some paperwork ready. This needs some legal backing before we try anything."
"You mean you'll consent?" Olivia asked, astonished.
Michael slowly nodded. "Yes. But only if Julia chooses to leave."
"Of course" Tori exclaimed. "This is excellent."
Michael rose to his feet and shook his head. "No it isn't. This is me needing to let go of another part of my heart. I wouldn't call it excellent."
"That's not what I-" his sister pleaded.
"I know" Michael interrupted, calling Rhaegar over to him. He climbed onto the back of his Dragonite and looked sadly back at the others. "But having lost Icarus, Aunt Jane, Chris, Ryan and all the others...it's getting harder to say goodbye." He then sent himself and Rhaegar soaring into the skies and far away from Iron Mountain. He had duties to attend to, including the most important of them all: being a father.
{}
Ryan Kingston's eyes slowly fluttered open after he felt the cold wave of water hit his feet. He tried to push himself to his feet, but only managed to flip himself onto his back. He felt weak, exhausted and drained of all life inside of him. Yet at the same time, something didn't add up. He tilted his head up and moved his feet. They both moved freely at will. He vaguely recalled one of his legs had been fractured during the cave collapse on Waypoint Island. But it had healed up so easily? He would have to ask Achilles about this soon.
He looked to his side and saw Achilles, lying on the ground as he was, only stirring slightly in his sleep. He patted the Gallade on his shoulder to wake him.
"Achilles. Achilles!"
The Pokemon opened his eyes and looked at his trainer on the ground. We're...we're unharmed?
"I was kinda hoping you would know what happened to us" he admitted. "I mean, we're alive. I guess that's what matters." He looked himself over and puzzled at the thought of how pale he looked. "At least...I hope we are."
Achilles jumped to his feet, but stumbled badly as if he too had been out of it for quite some time. He studied their surroundings and made an assessment. We're not on Waypoint Island anymore.
"How can we not be?" Ryan argued. He turned himself over again and paused. Achilles was right. They were somewhere else completely. There was no sign of his parents, his brother, Kayleigh or anything else immediately recognizable to him. He took his Pokemon's arm and slowly rose to his feet. He looked over their surroundings carefully. They had certainly drifted after falling from the peak of Waypoint Island. They were on a completely different shore. But not one unfamiliar to them. "Wait a minute. We've been here before."
How can you tell?
"What do you mean how can I tell?"
Achilles jogged his head. I have no way of sensing my memories. My link to Galatea is...gone.
"Gone?" Ryan asked. "Just like when we were...when we were on Mirage Island?!" He gasped. He quickly looked at the shore he and his Pokemon had washed up on. It was the same shore where The Pokemon World Tournament had begun. To the right of where they were was the tree where he, Dawn, Lucas and Tommy had set off on their own and parted ways with Cameron and Cynthia (well, at least Courtney pretending to be her). This was exactly as he had remembered it. The only differences were the docks and the luxury liner that had brought them there the first time were all missing.
Mirage Island?
"What is going on here?" Ryan asked. "How did we drift all the way here without drowning?"
More importantly, why are we here?
"If this island is still under Mewtwo's control, I think we should keep it on the low for now" Ryan suggested.
Did Mewtwo will us here?
"Hunter seemed pretty sure that Mewtwo wanted me dead" Ryan recalled. "And so did Avery. Speaking of which...she should be here if my dream about her was true."
Dreaming of the blonde haired maiden again, are we?
Ryan's face showed a bit of color with this. "No! She just contacted me in my dreams. Before what happened on the island occurred." He then recalled that she wasn't the only one on the island. "Wait a minute. Amanda should be here! And Chris! And Annette! And Jocelyn! We might be able to save them all, this time!" He made to move, but his leg still felt sluggish and made him fall down to a knee. "Okay, not like this. Maybe when we've gotten our legs back under us."
Achilles looked at his legs and cocked his head. Mine are under me.
Ryan sighed. "It's a figure of speech. Man, without Galatea you are a bit of a mess, aren't you?" He patted Achilles on the shoulder. "Well, when we're finally back to normal, we should make contacting Addison the first priority. That way, we'll be able to reconnect with her and Galatea. Maybe they can help us get back home. Sound good?"
His Pokemon shrugged. At this point, I can only agree with you. My sight is fogged and cloudy. He lowered into a battle stance. But not enough to know that someone is approaching.
Ryan took a step behind Achilles and gulped. "Is it one of Courtney's goons?"
From out of the forests, two beings shot out rapidly. One was the strange Pokemon that Addison had told him helped reawaken him when he was put to sleep on his last voyage here. The Pokemon let out a happy squawk and floated around him and Achilles, who finally lowered his guard. The second was the Pokemon responsible for putting him to sleep in the first place. Darkrai floated around the two of them in confusion and shock, before a familiar voice called out to them.
"Ryan?" Avery sounded. "What are you doing here?"
Ryan looked around for his old friend, but she was nowhere to be seen. "Uh, Avery? I hear you, but I can't see you."
"I don't understand" she sputtered. "How are you even here? What happened? Why didn't I have a link to your dreams for so long?"
"You're asking the wrong guy all these questions" Ryan admitted, scratching the back of his head. "I know just as little as you do."
Darkrai floated around them in one more circle before taking in a deep breath and showing an apparition of Avery to him. She hadn't changed much, apart from the ethereal glow showing that she had no more humanity to grasp onto. Despite this, she still wore the same tattered rags she had before and the same features he had once been smitten by. Yet she was unable to fully comprehend the situation. "This is strange. I came here to help ferry another wayward-." She gasped and looked Ryan over again. "Oh no. This can't be!" She looked around him and studied him. Despite being ethereal, she could still somehow touch him, as she grabbed his arm and lifted it up. He yanked his arm free.
"What's this all about?"
Avery put her hands on his shoulders. "Ryan, I'm going to need you to be completely calm when I tell you this."
"Tell me what?"
"Do you remember what had happened to me? How my grandfather and I were lost at sea and we found our way here?"
Ryan nodded. "I guess. But what does that have to-"
"Ryan" she snapped. "You're like me, now. Somewhere in between life and death."
Arcana's Champion fell back over. "WHAT?! I'M DEAD?!"
Avery frantically dove on top of him and placed her hand over his mouth to quiet him. "Shhhh! I told you to be calm!" She looked back at Darkrai, who used his powers to cloak the three Pokemon and two humans in a veil of darkness that was invisible to all but those inside. With them safeguarded from any patrolling Syndicate thugs, Avery removed her hand from Ryan's mouth. "Listen to me. I know this sounds crazy, but you're just where I was. But if you keep screaming about it, some of Mewtwo's henchmen might overhear you."
Ryan nodded. "Sorry. It's just a little hard to get a grip of this."
"I don't blame you" Avery answered. "This goes against everything we had planned. You were supposed to be out there preparing for Mewtwo's coming attack on Arcana. But with you here, that can't happen and-" She paused for a moment and began to think things over. "Actually, this could help us. This could really be a use to us." She got off of Ryan and pushed herself to her feet as Ryan was able to relax with her off of him. "You being here might help us prevent the entire war from happening."
"Is this because of that whole White Mage thing?"
"Exactly" Avery exclaimed. "You may not be able to fight Mewtwo there, but maybe here on Mystic Island, we can figure things out for you."
"Who's we?"
"I have a small team ready and prepared to help" she assured him. "Some of them are friends of yours."
Ryan scratched the back of his head again. "This all seems too complicated. How can I possibly be here when-"
"Remember what I told you" Avery reminded him. "Some souls don't move on to the afterlife immediately. They usually stay when they've got unfinished business to attend to. And you have business. You're still able to be the White Mage like Jocelyn said you could be." She took a deep breath of relief. "Finally, things are bouncing back our way. I need to get you back to our base." She reached down for Ryan and pulled him to his feet. "We can finish cluing you in there." She tugged at his hand. "Come on!"
Ryan yanked his hand free. "Hold on a sec." He looked towards Achilles. "What should we do?"
Achilles closed his eyes as if to concentrate on Avery and the entire situation's clarity, but opened them again and shook his head. I still feel nothing. Unless you have the clairvoyance needed to fix our present predicament, I fear we have no choice but to trust whatever Miss Frost here has to say.
Ryan then returned his attention to Avery and sighed. "Okay, fine. I'll tag along."
She nodded and offered the boy her hand. "Come on. This way."
"I can walk by myself" he insisted.
Avery shook her head. "I'm sure you can, but you won't find the base we've made. Darkrai is cloaking it from Mewtwo's sight. Even he's not all powerful yet to see it. To get there, you need me." She again held out her hand to him. "Take my hand."
Despite his unhappiness about being trapped somewhere he didn't want to be and with someone he was unsure if he could trust, he knew he would have to play along for a bit. He let Avery hold his hand and the two began their walk through the dense and dark forests of Mirage Island. Achilles followed at a distance, his trainer sensing that he was trying in earnest to regain his lost links to Galatea, and with that his untapped Psychic powers.
As Avery led him deeper into the island, Ryan found the scenery far more dark and foreboding than it had been when he was here as a member of the Pokemon World Tournament. "What's happened to this place? It's so much more sinister looking."
Avery sighed. "This place used to be a pristine paradise for all wayward souls to go before being offered the chance to enter the Realm of Arceus or to the Dark Domain of Giratina. But Courtney and Hunter, along with Mewtwo, hijacked the island and used it to their advantage. Now that he's here and draining all of the life from the island, it's beginning to decay and shroud itself in the abyss." The two walked up the winding paths of the forest trail, with Avery continuing to divulge more about what was going on on the island. "Mewtwo is up to something. We believe it may have something to do with one of the people he's abducted named Professor Helen Wong. And it may have something to do with Cloning. But that's all we can safely conclude." The two approached a tall hill. Avery took a step back and let go of Ryan before leaping with grace and pulling herself over the top.
Ryan was at first eager to do the same, but his sluggish legs made it difficult and he skidded to a stop before he was to jump. "I think I should just take it slow."
"I agree" Avery giggled. She pulled Ryan up the hill alongside her and the two continued walking hand in hand. "Mewtwo has been using the siphoned dreams of the trainers captive here to become stronger. It's hard to imagine, but he seems even more dangerous than he was before." She slightly tightened her grip on his hand. "I'm not going to lie. I'm worried about you facing him again."
"If it's my destiny" Ryan replied glumly. "I don't have a choice, do I?"
"We need to find a way for you to prepare for this fight" she insisted. "Luckily, I think the rest of our team will help in these regards."
"How long until we get to the base?" Ryan asked, already uncomfortable with needing to hold her hand to get there.
"We'll be there soon enough" Avery answered. "We need to stay quiet until we get there, though. Mewtwo might have eyes and ears all over the island." She pulled him closer to her and winked. "Don't worry. I'll keep you safe until you're all set."
Ryan rolled his eyes. "If you insist."
{}
Dawn and Lucas found themselves lost in the shuffle of all the tragic events and secret plans that had been unfolding at Kingston Castle. Despite all they had to look forward to, from Lucas perhaps one day getting his doctorate and taking over the Sandgem Pokemon Lab to Dawn's opportunity to go to the Battle Frontier and compete all over the world in various Pokemon Leagues, the two were broken up inside over Ryan's passing. Both had lost a dear friend to them and it would take a very long time for them to truly recover from the blow.
Lucas knew better than to press the issue now, but he always knew Dawn had something of a crush on Ryan. The two were so alike it was almost disturbing. They looked to each other for strength and composure and it felt weird to know that only one of them was left. He wanted to say something to her, to promise that things would be okay and that he missed Ryan too, but he also held back. Losing Ryan was like losing a brother or a truly good friend. He was unsure how to move on from it. The only thing he could do was be there for Dawn.
Now, with Kingston Castle a time bomb of emotions, the two did their best to stay out of everyone's way and sat out on the veranda steps leading to the soccer pitch below. Neither could bring themselves to smile or cheer the other up. It only seemed to help deal with the pain by sitting here with one another. If that was what it took, this was fine by Lucas.
While Lucas's trusted Pachirisu nibbled on a collection of berries nearby, Dawn shook her head sadly. "We never did get our rematch."
"I know" Lucas answered nervously. "But that doesn't mean much. You two were friends and that's all that matters."
"I guess you're right, but what happens now? I mean, I was going to stay for Ryan and all, but now that he's gone, what do we do?"
Lucas thought for a moment. "I think we need to stay now, more than ever."
"Huh?" Dawn cried out. "But you were looking for the next boat out of Arcana before."
"That was when we thought Ryan would be here" he responded sadly. "But now that he's not, I think we have to stay on his behalf." He looked back at the castle. "He may be gone, but he still has people he cared for and looked after. I'm sure Addison could use us just as much as he did. And Holly and Tommy. Even that jerk, Matthew. Plus, Cynthia wants to stay to make things right by Michael. I think it's fair we do the same."
Sorrow gripped Dawn's answer to him like a vice. "If you say so."
"Why do you want to leave now?"
"It's not that I want to. It's just that I..."
Lucas nodded. "You didn't think you could hide it, did you?"
"What do you mean?" Dawn inquired.
"You liked Ryan."
"Of course I did." She then gasped at her friend's assertion. "If you think it was anything like that-"
"Dawn" Lucas said calmly, "it's okay." He let out a soft smile as they saw the rain clouds beginning to part and a sunny evening beginning to show. "Ryan was remarkable. I'd be shocked if there was a girl out there who didn't like him. Brave, handsome, smart and a fierce competitor." He shrugged to himself as Dawn became somewhat reflective of what he said. "It's the same with Addison, I guess. She's clever, witty, beautiful and always has your back. That's why they were made for each other."
Dawn contemplated her words. "Lucas, I want you to promise me something."
"Promise?"
"I want you to promise me that we'll make it to the end of this" she insisted. "I mean it!" She turned towards him and, much to his shock and delight, took his hands in hers. "Losing Ryan...it's thrown me for a loop." She lowered her head. "I didn't meet my Dad. But this is the first time in my life that I'm actually experiencing mortality. It all ends at some point."
"That's pretty poignant" Lucas responded.
"And it's made me think" Dawn continued, worry in her voice palpable. "About the things in my life I know I couldn't do without. My Pokemon, my Mom..." She looked away, Lucas spying her reddening cheeks despite her eagerness to hide them. "...and you."
Lucas nodded. "I make that promise to you then, Dawn."
"Swear to it?"
"As Arceus as my witness" he proclaimed.
"And how can I know you meant it?"
Lucas dropped her hands, flung his arms around her and for the first time in their entire friendship, was the one to instigate a kiss. His gusto even shocked him, but he was alleviated when Dawn did not pull away. When they pulled apart, Lucas lowered his head and took her hands in his again. "Can you promise me the same thing?"
Dawn laughed. "Like it could ever be in doubt?" The two entered into a long embrace. Lucas thought he could see Cynthia looking down on them from the veranda, but when he blinked, she was gone. The two came apart and after a moment of silence, he found himself needing to be the one to break the ice.
"So, does this mean we're boyfriend and girlfriend? Like, officially?"
Dawn put her finger to her cheek and pondered the question. "Well, I guess? I was expecting something more grandiose, but I guess that's how this relationship starts."
Lucas gulped. "Would you call it rocky?"
She shook her head and laughed. "No. I'd call it you. You're not dashing or heroic. You're not super strong or a cunning Pokemon Trainer. But you are smart, caring, sensitive and you always listen to me. You are exactly as I would take you and I won't have you any other way." She wrapped her arm around his and rested her head on his shoulders, causing Lucas's face to turn a shade of red he didn't think possible. "It would be an honor to call myself your girlfriend."